just dont want to

Lisa1637

Good to hear tuxtails!!

MsW2012

Thanks Yawls!

The 1st appt went fine today. Except I don't like surprises. I had expectations. Right away the techs said I wouldn't be getting tx today just x-rays. What? I thought xrays were just part of the simulation day. I didn't understand. Then she explained it's the same machine and that once each week they take xrays in addition to giving the rads. Just different concentrations I guess.

The nurse also told me Neutrogena cleansing bar was not ok when the other nurse before had recommended it. She said use only Dove.

Also I gave the RO my vitamins list at our first meeting in Nov but they didn't have it in my chart today. Now they tell me no multivit and no extra vit E. It makes me feel less confident when I get conflicting info. I will run it all by the RO when I see him or her - they are partners - next week.

Other than all that it was easy enough. Just like the simulation. I like that I can talk to the techs any time through the speaker.

Tomorrow I get radiation and Herceptin. That will be every week throughout rads and beyond, till October.

Oh a nice surprise: my echo from last Friday was actually better than the baseline one from October! The efficiency went up from 61% to 64%. Hooray for small miracles.

FilterLady

tux,

I'm doing the happy dance for you!  That buzzing, etc can be strange.  I told my DH, that I knew when I heard the "click" it would be about 2 seconds for the buzzing but it kinda startled me every time, lol.  I was hoping I could get done with my treatments without sneezing, coughing, etc.

The techs said don't worry we can hear you, we can stop it immediately if you feel you are going to sneeze, cough,etc....I got to where I'd almost laugh thinking "don't sneeze, etc...., rofl  But I made it through 28 regular and 7 boosts without any interuptions, lol

 I had Dr day and xrays on Tuesdays and time really does pass by pretty quickly.

God bless you,

LaDonna

Spookiesmom

New to this thread have had 24 regular blasts, 5 boosts, at least a week off, then the last 4 regulars. My skin fell apart. I have Biafine, silva dine, hydrocortisone and lidocaine for the itch.



I'm really having a problem going for the last 4. I DON'T WANT TO. I had a severe reaction to Taxotere and RO says that's why my skin is so bad. It's my call to stop it, but then the what ifs start. It's hard.



One last thought. Everybody is nervous at the first rx. When the machine is doing its thing, I think. DIE.CANCER.DIE



Good luck to all

FilterLady

Oh Spookie,

I'm sorry that you are having problems with your skin.  Those dang "what ifs" are annoying aren't they?

God bless you,

LaDonna

Spookiesmom

I finished the boosts today. Now I have a week off before the last 4. I told the techs, I'm trying to get it to heal, and then come back and get cooked again? Where is the sense in that?



Ugh!!!!!

MsW2012

Thanks FilterLady. First rads went fine. They taped a blob of gel like rubber to part of my skin to focus or intensify the rads there because my margins were so small there. I don't fully understand but I do trust the dr. I saw her while on the table today and will ask more questions when I see her next week. I fear my skin there will be extra tough but I guess that's just the way it is. Good luck everyone. We sometimes have to make tough decisions. Those darned what-ifs indeed.

tuxtails

Day 4 of rads, no problems yet....drinking lots of water and putting on aloe vera throughout the day. I noticed a large bell in the lobby today...the tears came to my eyes...I can't wait to ring it!

Filter Lady...notice that you are from Meridian, grew up there in the 70's!

Spookie hang in there, you are almost there!

FilterLady

Hi Tux,

Small world huh?  I'm originally from Pascagoula but came to Meridian in 1991 when DH was active duty Navy and we were stationed here.  He retired in 1997 (at age 36,lol) and went into business with a friend.

Long story short....didn't work out and they split the company so now DH and I own our company.  He works in the field 13 days a month...not all together, lol.  I handle all the paperwork, etc.  So blessed that I wasn't working outside the home when diagnosed.

Ring that bell so that I can hear it from here, lol.  My brother was so touched by my ringing the bell.  Afterwards, he told me that when I invited him to come up from Pascagoula....he thought okay it'll be fun....ringing the bell, etc.  He didn't realize until he got to the Cancer Center, just how important taking that final treatment and ringing the bell really meant.  I gotta tell you that he cried like a baby both then and watching me walk in the survivors lap at our local Relay for Life...it really was the best!

God bless you,

LaDonna

Yawls

Hi spookiesmoom, my ro gave me the option to quit with three boosts left. He said I could heal then come back. I couldnt face the thought of not bieng done. I opted for let's keep going.the skin breakdown was from the regular rads not the boosts...so it was hard, but it was harder to think about making this go on longer. It's two weeks later I'm done and healed , working with a real bra on, taking my tamoxifen and ready to move on. Bless you during this hard time. no matter what, it will be over soon!

Spookiesmom

That's the thing. I finished the boosts yesterday, go for a skin check next Wed, and the decision about the remaining 4 regular treatments. He says I can't stop. I say it's my call. It's always banging around in my head.



Ugh

Waitingforthenextstep

Hey all, prior to starting rad tx's, should I be starting to use any of my creams?  I have Eucerin and Aloe gel.  Also if you all can tell me when you apply cream once tx has begun. Appreciate

Spookiesmom

My RO started me on hydrocortisone 3 x daily from day 1. I found a neat sunburn gell product at Walmart has aloe, lidocaine tea tree comfrey in it. Not sure that's a national product, too many tourists here don't respect the Fl sun. He approved it.



Nothing stopped the blistering. I'm using silva dine now with 5% lidocaine. Was also using Biafine. Useless for me. My pit is still oozing a yucky pus, it's been over a week, I don't want to finish the remaining 4 regular rads.

FilterLady

Waiting,

I was instructed to use my Radiagel after each treatment and at bedtime.  I was told absolutely not to use anything before my treatments.

Your RO will give you specific instructions since we are all different as are our treatment plans.

Take care,

LaDonna

tuxtails

I am halfway there and then I get to ring that bell for the whole US to hear! I have been using pure aloe right after treatments and before I go to bed. I started applying several days before the rads started. Drink lots of water too.