Summer 2012 RADS HANG OUT

IndigoMont11

Minxie, all the best and thanks for the encouragement. I hope the time goes by quick for you!

Butterflylady2012

Julz4, yes, I do have an Endocrinologist but I have had trouble connecting with him as of late.  He has a pretty busy office.  I might go through my primary care doctor or another Endo just to get some advice.

Minxie, I'm sorry you are feeling so tired.  That is what I am wondering, how much the fatigue will hit me.  My system tends to be a bit sensitive, so I hope it doesn't knock me over!  I guess only time will tell.  Hang in there!  

jpmomof3, I don't run, but I walk quite a bit.  So much to still go through, rads, another surgery after that to remove left breast as well.  Walking feels good and clears my head a bit! And I need to clear my head! You'll be running before you know it. 

Great to hear how everyone is doing.  I learn, grow and am inspired by everyone here.  It helps to keep me sane and reminds me that I have many friends out there.  It feels good.  

janiemomof2

#6 of 15 rads are in the rearview mirror... down to single digits! 9 to go!!

Stacie

Minxie you have been through a lot! So glad we can be here for you...

akinto

I finished my 16 rads last week. Almost no SEs. Two little spots of dark rough skin about 2mm wide. And the area where there was surgery is the color of meatloaf. Ugh. No fatigue to speak of.

I am off to a conference this week and will return to do a  series of 5 boost treatments next week.

I have been doing everything I can to reduce SEs. I am taking Omega 3 fish oil supplements, an exercise program, and ginseng for the fatigue.  For my skin, I am using calendula salve, LaRoche-Posay Cicaplast, Webber's vitamin E, and Aveeno night time extra heavy duty moisturizer 3x day after my treatment is done early in the morning.

 I haven't had chemo, so I didn't start with that level of SEs.

See you guys when I am back next week!

kjiberty

akinto:  Thanks for the tips.  I will be received 34 treatments in about a month.  See my RO next Thursday.  

Stacie

Yea thanks akinto

Hiker61

BLinthedesert I'm just coming over from T/C treatment thread. Great to see that you have kept up such a remarkable running schedule! I kept up my 7-8 mile runs throughout chemo and never missed boot camp. The MO said that was the reason I had a fairly easy time of chemo. I did NOT want to end chemo feeling out of shape. My RO also said that running should help minimize fatigue, so plan to keep it up throughout rads as well. I am running slower than before, but trying to keep up the mileage. I love catching a breeze on my bald head! Glad to hear you are doing it without problems! And JP--start slow, but I'm a big believer how well keeping up my running did for me through chemo. Go girls! 

Glad to see some T/C pals here too.... 

kjiberty

Hiker:  Wow!  I thought I was doing well by walking.  You are amazing!

PositivityRocks

Although I'm not finishing chemo till October and then onto rad I don't wanna miss a beat from you ladies so I'm jumping in here too!

Jennt28

Is it OK to leap in? I started rads just last Tuesday so at the very end of June. Am having 28 hits, oops I mean treatments which include a concurrent boost ie: I get 2 extra zaps everyday that target the tumour bed.



Have been sore since right after the first day and am now taking an antihistamine for hives (I get them if I'm out in the sun too long and sure enough am now getting them with rads) and an NSAID for my arm that has been aching for 3 days.



regards Jenn

kjiberty

Jennt28:  Welcome!  Are they hives from the sun or both sun/rads?  I have had hives from the chemo.

Stacie

Welcome Jenn.

jpmomof3

Hiker, thanks for the encouragement. I am thinking I may try to get back to running sooner rather than later. The last dose of taxol is wearing off already from last week. I got good news on my post chemo mammo and ultrasound today and am feeling more energetic. I haven't had surgery yet, but hope to bounce back fairly fast from that. And now I am thinking that I will want to try running through rads.

Sissydi

Jpmom, how do you run in the heat? Or do you go to a gym? It's sooo hot where I live right now, I may have to start going to the gym this week.

jpmomof3

Sissy, I try to go early, before 10 am the path I run on is shaded. I also get acclimated to the heat as the summer goes on. The heat has been so brutal here the last few days that nobody is out there. Luckily it is "cooling" down to the low nineties...

Jennt28

I get the hives from the sun, but obviously now get them from radiotherapy... It's called solar urticaria.



I am 5 weeks out from chemo and started on my treadmill last week. Am doing the fat burner interval training style programs. Feels good but can only manage Level 2 for my 40min workouts :-/



Jenn

Sissydi

That's still pretty good Jenn! How many times a week do you do the treadmill? I think I'll start every other day doing cardio, and weights with legs only!

HealingDreams

Love your photo, Sissydi.

Hi, Jenn. As I mentioned on the July thread, we started radiation about the same time. My side effects are pinkishness, tenderness, and possibly fatigue after 7 sessions. More info in the other thread.

It is amazing, encouraging really, to hear about the exercise you all are doing. I miss my daily swim, but the pool here is closed for repairs and I haven't figured out a good alternative. Also, I'm unsure about getting into a pool with already sore skin. I am walking almost daily for an hour and will definitely keep that up, given your experience, Hiker61.Thanks for the motivation! It helps a lot!

kjiberty

Jenn:  Thanks for the info on hives.  

jpmomof3

Jenn, good for you for getting on the treadmill! It will really help. I am about to go for a walk, I think I might even jog a mile for the first time since I started chemo.

Hiker61

Tough boot camp this morning because it was almost 80 at 6 am! It felt good to sweat out some more of last week's chemo though! 

jpmomof3

I just ran a mile! Yay! First run in over five months. I will likely pay for it later but it felt great.

kjiberty

Hiker and JP:  WOW!  Good for you!

Sissydi

Whoo hoo! You go ladies!

Raelan

Hey Ladies - I found you.  Not sure when my rads will start, but it will most likely be early Aug or early Sept.  During my last appt, MO indicated he felt 4 infusions would be sufficient based on my stats (we were originally planning on doing 6, but I got my oncotype DX score after the 1st infusion due to an infection/hospitalization....doc wanted to make sure I was really benefitting from chemo at that point).  It came back at 18.  So, he's giving me the option of going for my 4th (last) infusion on 7/12, or doing two more after that.....it's really up to me.  Still debating this 4 vs. 6 choice, but am really tempted to stop after 4.  Have 1 more week to decide.  Just want to make sure I am comfortable with whatever decision I make since I only intend to go through this once.

Not looking forward to some of the rad SE's, but I agree it should certainly be easier than chemo.  Then, once all this chemo/rad therapy is behind me I get to start on my recon.  I feel like I have such a long road ahead of me, but then again, I am getting some of the worst over with.

I remember reading about the ginseng study on the BC.org research tab.  Apparently it helps with fatigue.  Might have to ask my MO about it.  This is probably the one SE I'm dreading the most since I have two kids at home (age 10) and I work full-time.  I don't have too much more wiggle room as far as my energy level is concerned.

kjiberty

Raelan:  Let us know what your MO says about the ginseng, because fatigue will be my biggest concern during rads as I will be working FT as well.  I had an Onc. DX score of 28, and was recommended 4 rounds of T/C., no nodes involved if that helps at all in makig a decision.

Stacie

Anyone know "how" they determine how many RADS you get? My MO said 4-6 weeks and I haven't seen my RO yet but am curious

onvacation

Stacie - good question!  I haven't seen mine either but I hope to in the next week or so!  Origianlly the MO mentioned 5-6 weeks - I like 4 better!

kjiberty

Stacie:  My RO told me originally I would need 34 treatments, 30 reg. rads, 4 targeted ones, but that was before chemo.  I meet with him this week.  I wil let you know what he says.  PS--He's a good-lucking guy too.  Easy on the eyes!