Fall 2012 Rads girls......come on in!

Aruba

Tazzy, Thanks so much for the tip!   I will give it a go!!  Had to look this up..lol

1 Liter = 33.8140226 Ounces [Fluid, US]

JPmom..Have not seen you on of late..hope you are doing well!

Cottontail

I had rads #9 today and my second weekly check with my RO. I finally remembered to ask exactly how many I'm getting. She had previously said six and a half weeks, so I assumed 33. Nope. I guess I'm slated to get 35. Not happy!



I'm already turning a little bit pink, and having some slight swelling in that breast. It's not really noticeable, except when I take my bra off I have marks from my underwires on the left side only. My RO told me to continue using aloe after treatment, and when (not if) I start to get itchy, to use Benadryl cream on it. My Ultra Repair Cream has colloidal oatmeal in it, and does a good job at calming the itchy eczema on my hands, so I'll use that for as long as it works.



Not sure how my skin is supposed to make it through 35 if I'm already going pink after #9. I know radiation burn isn't the same as sunburn, but come on. I'm so pale I'm nearly transparent, and I burn after 20 minutes in the sun. Boo.

rn4babies

Today is my last treatment, 25/25. Woot, Woot!!

xtina

NKB - Congratulations!!!

Rn4babies - congratulations on your last appt today too!  Yay! 

xtina

Tazzy & Aruba - Thanks for the info on the saline compress, I might have to try that.  I had to chuckle at your post Aruba - I was going to google that too.  I think we're the only nation not on the metric system at this point!

 Aruba my "underboob" is the worst part for me as well.  If it gets too uncomfortable I just slap some aloe on, recline a bit and put my arm over my head to give it some space! LOL!  It helps a bit.  Can't do that at work of course.....but at least when I get home I can get a bit of respite. 

Cottontail - good luck on the skin. I am also really fair and burn within like 10 min of sun.  I started getting pink at the end of the first week and had swelling at the end of the second so I thought for sure I'd really be in for it.  Since that time, however, the skin is just slightly more pink/red and it's kind of just hanging in there around at about the same level.  No worse, really.  I had to see nurse and RO yesterday and they were both like "Oh that's hardly anything, it looks great!". 

PaEaglesFan

Am I the only one in the group who has to undergo 36 treatments??? It feels like a never ending story.

14 down, 22 to go.  

Nkb

Congratulations rn4 babies!!

Bonlee

Congratulations to Jeannie57, lumpynme, nkb, and rn4babies!!

So happy to hear you are done with radiation.



Tazzy- thanks for the info on the saline compresses. I haven't heard of this before.



Today was 9 of 28. My skin is doing ok, so far. Just some pink/ redness. I'm still worried about complications with my implant.



I saw my onc yesterday before my #4 herceptin. He wants me to start arimidex during radiation. I really don't want to take this pill for 5 years. I only had a "rare positive cells" for estrogen on my path report. Anyone else start arimidex during rads?

KimbytheSea

@PAEagles fan. No, you are SO not the only one. I'm on 20 of 35 and it just never ends. I'm not that much of a drama queen, but some days I walk into the locker room to get in that gown and get zapped and I feel like crying. My stomach tightens. 

 I was so comforted by reading your post because it feels neverending to me too, but I feel like a big weenie even mentioning it.  

Also, my underarm has a rash and my chest is itchy and bumpy. Bewb is reddish pinkish and not a happy bewb.  

grateful33

Yay to Jeannie57, Lumpynme,nkb and rn4babies for finishing!!! It must feel great!

I have 22 of 28 today. It feels like a long road esp after chemo and two surgeries! Had redness last week on front of chest and the saline compresses have really settled it down along with a steroid cream. It is still red and itchy but less so. I am olive skinned and have been lubing the boob like crazy. I am finding radiation so emotional especially the beginning and the end.

Good luck to all this week!

Junif

PaEagles & Kim--I have 36 and it is neverending.  Tomorrow I am halfway through and it doesn't even feel good because I still have so many more to go.  Normally on Tuesday I get xrays and Thursday meet with the RO--I absolutely HATE Thursday because it adds up to another 45 min. to an hour and is a totally waste of my time.  Today, I was informed it was a Dr. day because my RO is out of town and his partner is filling in.  I wasn't in a good mood and told the nurse that this is a total waste of my time to wait around to tell them that I am taking the same drugs and still using the aloe and miraderm, yada, yada, yada.  I told her I resented the fact that I am not informed in advanced when they are making changes.  She admitted that the nurses know but don't tell the patients.  Gee thanks. I said I expected to be informed in advance the next time.  Then she told me that it was 'the law' that I meet with the RO every week--huh--is that a Federal law or Michigan law---then she backtracked and told me that my insurance required it.  I am getting crankier!  My RO's partner came in and said, "Oh you're halfway thru!" and my reply was "and I still have the other half to go."  He then told me if I needed anything to let them know.  That was it--a total of 60 seconds.  I hate stupidity and I hate that I am paying these people to waste my time, ask the same stupid questions, and look at my breast from across the room where they couldn't tell if it's pink or not and then tell me I AM DOING A GOOD JOB, KEEP IT UP!!  Fuck them--like I have any control over this. 

I have to tell you that I was in quite a rant getting into the car today and ended up smacking myself in the head with the car door.  My DH didn't see me do it, just saw me holding my head when he got in to the car and said--OMG, what happened...I said the door smacked me in the head!  He looked at me and with a very serious straight face said, "Did you check the car door is it hurt!?!?  I glared at him and he said that in the battle of the car door and my head, my head was harder!!  He always makes me laugh!

Aruba

#20 of rads happened today, Routine getting old, I have to say!   I hate getting burnt without sand nor sun, Similar result but absolutely no fun!   To my fellow rads sisters who are always so nice, I turn to you for help and friendly advice.   Aloe, Calendula, creams from a tube.. Was warned all needed to "lube the boob".   And most recent, Tazzy really came through!  With saline compress tip..so comforting..phew!   Today I laughed with Xtina addition, Calling that part "the underboob"...a new tradtition.   So you see, if I have to be here, sad but true.. I feel very lucky to have all of you!!!! 

Aruba

rn4babies, Lumpynme, Jeannie57, nkb--Congrats and keep that finish line lit up for the rest of us coming your way

Tazzy

Oh Junif you made me laugh with the car door story... good DH to put that smile back on your face.

#8 today... more x-rays to make sure still all OK.   I see my RO tomorrow.  I see him every week too... so must be a law of some sorts somewhere.

Aruba - happy the saline compress is soothing - amazing that such a simple thing can bring such comfort.

Hope everyone is hanging in there.  Keep up the lubing

Cottontail

I could see my swelling today. Well, ol' Lefty has always been the smaller of the two, I hope she enjoys her time being larger.

Jeannie57

I'm glad frustrations are vented here! And humor. Radiation is such a strange process. Every day for five weeks I laid on my back on a table, arms overhead, chest exposed, feet constrained while two to three men drew on me with felt pen, stared intently at my deformed and scarred chest, laid Saran wrap over the cancerous side, then what looked like a brass top Cleopatra would wear on top of that. They then ran out of the room while I was zapped. They did this three times, day after day for twenty-five days. And it wasn't until after radiation was over that I blistered and burned. Now my risk for lymphedema is freaking me out and I have to learn 20 minutes of daily lymphatic massage exercises. I've had two surgeries, 12 weeks of chemo, five weeks of rads with 12 more weeks of chemo, ten years of antihormonals and DIEP surgery to go. This is the new me! I am unbreakable. Bring it on. At least, that's what I'm saying today!

Tazzy

Yikes Jeannie....quite the get up they had you in.  I feel fortunate that I have 3 young girls (they are young to me) nuking me..they are the sweetest and actually speak to me about what they are doing etc.   every day they say pretty much the same thing as I lay there.  What they do with my is lay a cloth over my right side then lay a kind of gel/silicone pad over where the rads will be directed.  They say that it imitates the skin and concentrates the radiation there.....then they run out the room to zap me

We can all do this... we are strong... one day at a time.

guineamom

Most probably joining this group soon. Done my mapping end Sept, left country and cleared mind about all these mess. Now back to reality, going to see RO tomorrow and guess will start radiation soon.

luvBngGma

I have not posted in a while, but have gleaned valuable info from several threads. I went for my 2nd RADS session today, but I think yesterday was just pictures. I asked about creams/lotions during my 'education' session, and was told I didn't need to do anything until I have 'issues'. They only suggested Vit E cream, Eucerin, and Aquaphor. Thinking about ordering Miaderm, anyway. They also suggested I only wear a camisole or go bra-less. Any other well-endowed ladies out there with suggestions?? I am a 38DD. Found inexpensive cami's at Target , but I may as well go without. hardest part for me is keeping my non-affected arm over my head, when it hurts the whole time! Piece of cake, compared to chemo. Tho, I am still trying to get my head around having to go EVERY day, and that I won't be thru till Dec 4. Also have a stinking thyroid biopsy scheduled for 10/29. I am such a baby about needles, and understand they won't be giving me anything except shots of Novacaine. UGHH! Thanks for listening...felt a need to vent a little today.

Tazzy

Welcome guineamom.  You'll not find a friendlier bunch of women with tons of advice for each other.  Good luck at the RO.

LuvBngGma... My RO, Nurse and the 3 rad techs told me to start lubing as soon as rads started.   I am using Glaxal Base and also a saline compress which I shared with the other ladies here.  1 litre water brought to the boil, 1-2 tsps salt.  Let water sit until at room temp, then get a face cloth or similar, soak the cloth then lay across chest for 10-15 mins... resoaking if necessary.

Really I would start lubing and soaking sooner rather than later.. but that is me.  Good luck

Aruba

welcome to gunieamom and LuvBngGma!  I am similar to you Luv and can tell you that I had no SE's till started getting pink and a bit itchy with bumps on chest not breast area around day 16.  I am now at day 21/31 and am red on random  spots and the fold now known as the "underboob".  I have not worn a bra much but as time goes on...need to keep getting air to that underboob area which can be tricky.  Follow Tazzy's soothing potion above..it feels great (thanks again Tazzy!).  I started loobing the boob before rads started with radiagel (given to me by my RO), Pure aloe and calendula cream (bought at whole foods).  I use radiagel after treatment and the others throughout.  How many treatments do you have?  .  I also just had the breast area done without auxillary or superclav area.  Today I was measured for the shield they will use later next week for the boost area done to the scar and tumor bed area I had removed with lumpectomy.  Interesting that they use protons during basic treatment and the area can be "zeroed" in by machine.  With the boosts it goes to electrons I believe that they have to shield the area with like a lead form with the shape drilled out for the rads to hit the boost area.

Andrea623

Tazzy, after the saline compress, do you rinse the area or just pat dry and lube? I haven't started rads yet, my planning session won't be till the 30th, but I like to have as much info as possible before I need it. Thanks!

Tazzy

Andrea... just pat dry and lube up again.

virginiab

LuvBngMa--

Try not to stress about the thyroid test. I had a needle biopsy of my thyroid last week. The only thing that hurt was the injection of novocaine-type stuff. It was no more or less comfortable than at the dentist. It was a very large syringe (with a very skinny needle) that they used for the novocaine. The area numbed up really fast and the needle biopsy was fast. I was able to watch the ultrasound screen the whole time and could see when the cells were sucked out of the mass on my thyroid.

They had a tech with a microscope right in the room, and she took a few minutes to prepare some of the material that had been extracted, to make sure they had enough cells for pathology to work with. They did, so we were all done.

This was Thursday afternoon and I was told it would take 2 to 4 working days to get pathology results, but my MO's nurse called Friday evening to tell me the results were benign.

Most thyroid growths are benign (which you probably already know). I hope yours is too.

Keep us posted!

luvBngGma

Tazzy>thanks for the saline suggestion.i'm with you--why not prevent, instead of treat?

Aruba> thanks for the suggestions. I also read another suggestion for the calendula cream.

Virginiab>thanks for the response on the thyroid. For some reason, the thought of sticking a needle in my neck, close to my vocal chords, is stressing me out. Thinking one of those Ativan pills left from my chemo might just be in order. Maybe even a couple:-)

Thanks, ladies!

I have to repeat your comment, Tazzy.

We can all do this... We are strong... One day at a time!

xtina

Junif-  Thank God for sarcastic husbands, no?  Mine is the same way. 

I had a mini-meltdown last week.  It's my most stressful time at work, which of course I was not planning for this all to happen at the same time - work stress, rads stress, etc, and that's exactly how he handled it.  It's how he handles me much of the time.  Don't get me wrong, he's not an ass, when I need to cry a little he's right there for me in the best way, but he also just knows when I need to unload and how he can get me laughing again.

I also love when the RO says "You're doing GREAT! Keep it up!"  Really??  I'm doing great, am I?  Glad you think so dude.  I'm just thinking "Wouldn't it be even "greater" if I didn't have cancer and have to do this every day??"

The techs and the RO never say things like that, I think they know better 'cause they see us every day - they know what the right thing to say is in a way that's not patronizing.

xtina

Welcome guineamom and LuvBngGma!  Good luck with the biopsy LuvBng.  I also started lubing right away, I think the goal seems to be to prevent issues (or lessen them) before anything terrible happens.  Like they always say, easier to prevent pain than to chase it down. I use a scrip lotion they gave me, then I use Aloe and a tiny bit of calendula. 

Aruba- Hah see "underboob" is the new next best thing!  Maybe we should write a dictionary for BC survivors.

I haven't been wearing a bra much lately either, it's just too uncomfortable on the noob.  I have been wearing these really soft, very light control sports bras by Bally's (the fitness co) that are made out of bamboo.  I happened to see them on some clearance rack somewhere and thought I'd try them since it's short term, and they are the best purchase I've made in months!  I love them.  Then when I get home after rads I just throw on a cami/tank. 

That's interesting about the boosts - protons vs electrons. I wondered what they did there.  I'm not having boosts because I had a reduction with my lumpectomy, so that area is totally gone or smooshed around elsewhere. 

Junif

Xtina--you're right the techs are great and I don't get a lot of stupid comments from them.  The hospital I go to is NOT a teaching hospital but they have some tech students come in for experience.  Two weeks ago I walked in and had 4 in with me.  I have face-down radiation so they are trying to get you line up and then the table is raised which they keep jerking to the point where you are getting naseous.  It makes everything take longer.  Then they were gone.  Yesterday I had another one and expected a bigger group today.  I asked the tech about it and she said 'Oh if you don't want them there just tell us.'  Well you know what, I think I should be asked..I do not want to be a teachable moment.  I don't feel that great, I simply want to get in and out (which happens when I only have 2 experienced techs.   I really don't feel like bearing my ugly breast to a group of perky little students and I don't want them touching me and making the 'lining up' process irritating.  My brother just gave me a lecture on how these students have to learn and I shouldn't complain.  Stupid Bastard.  He soooooooooooo pissed me off.  He has no idea how this feels.  I just want in and out.  I spent most of my life teaching college--that's enough--I don't have to give them my body too.  It just irritates me that I am not asked about this why put me in the position of walking into the room and telling them to get out..oh yeah, give me a little more stress!!  Needless to say, I will never again mention a thing to my brother.  Lately I'm just angry about a lot things!

Hope everyone is having a good (or at least tolerable day). 

ladyfighter

18/33 today. Little pink/tan on my skin. No itching or anything.

I feel crappy think allergies??

Feeling more tired now than first 2 weeks.



I finally colored my hair!!! To dark brown, I'm happy!

My eyelashes are thick now finally. Eyebrows so-so.



Welcome to new comers!



Congrats to ones who finished!



Hugs everyone!

KimbytheSea

My armpit is all burned and uncomfortable. My rad tech mentioned an over-the-counter product called Dermo-something. It's a bunch of little cloths that you soak and apply. They apparently have powder on them or something. Very soothing. 

Anybody tried it? (Or can remember the name?) The armpit is dark red. Bleh. 

22 down, 13 more to go. It. Is. Neverending.....