Spring 2013 Rads

MMSS

Sheryl, I just finished 13/28 and thought that I was doing well fatigue wise but then it hit all of a sudden before the last couple of treatments and all at once I would be going along and hit the wall. What makes it worse is that while I am exhausted I am also having trouble sleeping which only makes it harder to deal with. I am just scaling way back on my expectations for what I can get done and pushing to get my walk in every day which seems to help. I think it is time to break out my Downton Abbey DVDs and put my feet up and watch.

RMlulu

Hi y'all



RunFree - what a blessing your driver rotation! So wonderful the outpouring of love and support ...speaks volumes. Hope you have documented this collective (((hug))) in pics, journal, or quilt or shutterfly so you can revisit and smile they all stood up 4 u. And despite all those nude girlie pics you're still a really nice girl just trying to save 2nd base!

SherylB - fatigue comes in waves and is always a surprise. Just hits...but riding in the car makes me feel like a toddler in a car seat out the driveway and I start to nod off ...

Adagio - congrats on just 3 more boosts! What is the special gel pad? What does it do? Where was your T? Tuesday will be my first of 5 boosts...curious.

Piperjo7 - congrats on making it through chemo land! Yeah May will be here soon. I don't know if there's any guarantees about how our bodies will respond to rads. All we can do is go in strong mentally and physically ... Hydrate, eat well, walk, moisturize, rest, and laugh! It is serious laser tag. So for now Moisturize front and back. Ask your RO all your questions and concerns. Prepare a support team and accept their help. Take good care of yourself! Determine how you can make your countdown fun and breathe:)))

April - drumroll ' love me 10der, Zap me sweetly....pass the SPF 9 Gray please!

Lemon - (((hugs))) hero!

Today was along awaited family day ...4 hour round trip for 4 hour fun! Bubbles&giggles&water fun! R&R ready for final full and 5 boosts...nodding off on couch free boobing....girl looks 28 shades of pink!

(((Hugs)))

Cindy

adagio

RMLulu - the gel pad has been custom made for me so that it lays flush against my incision. According to the technicians it acts like several layers of skin , so that when they give the boost, it is more superficial and the radiation works on the tumour bed. Apparently the tumour bed is a common place for reoccurence! My tumour is in the 3:30 position on the breast. The good thing about the boosts is that there is no need to worry about the heart and lung - so they said!

You have only 6 treatments left - wow!! You must be getting so ready to be finished.

I have my "dancing shoes" ready for Tuesday when I have my very last treatment. The breast has done great - only slightly red now and a bit itchy. Calendula has worked wonders for the itchy parts!

April - your big day is fast approaching - let us know how it goes!

Lemon - how is the healing process?

Cooling thoughts for all you rads girls!! Keep posting and let us know how you are doing!

april485

Good morning my warrior friends. Today is D day or Z day if you are calling it ZAP day. I will be leaving in 20 mins for the 45 min ride allowing an additional 10 mins for traffic. Then on to Room D which I thought appropriate. D is for DONE which is what I will be after having all 10 of my treatments between this morning and Friday afternoon. I will go to our New Haven office and work in between zaps each day except Friday which I have decided I will take off and have my hubby drive me and we will hang out and take a ride in between zaps.

Nervous but happy to finally be getting this show on the road! Wish me luck! xoxox

Will tell you all about it if indeed there is anything to tell. The machine is the same one you all use...external beam.

laurascott1016

April good luck! A dear friend of mine lived in New Haven.

I loved visiting her and going to New York in the train.

RMLulu thanks for your humor! I finished my rads last week (33 including 7 boosts at the end). I believe you're done this week? Still moisturizing with everything and babying my albino (peeled) nipple! Not too bad, otherwise. Yay for you for ending this week!

Now it's in to making the to idem decision. I filled the RX. I have read a ton of info and I am still not convinced the "cost" will outweigh the benefit. I just keep hearing "standard of care".

april485

Adagio, the reason I am having partial breast rads (in essence all boosts) is that study after study has shown that recurrence is in the area of previous lesion almost every time. When it is somewhere else in the breast, it is a new primary. So, that is why I am having partial breast rads (although my boob is small so in eseence mine is more than half of my breast..lol)

Best to all of you! Here I go!

MTJulie

Hello to all spring rads ladies! I am 19 of 28 so far and am starting to have some side effects . My rightie is all freckled and polka dotted and am getting a sore nip. Up until this last week it was fine tho and even now, it's way easier than chemo. I am starting to notice some fatigue; I wake up feeling kind of tired and sore muscled. I started out using aloe Vera gel and have switched to Aquaphor now. All in all, tho, it's doable! And the end is in sight.

peki007

Hi gals,

I have been reading your posts with interest.  I am getting "mapped" on Thursday and will begin next week, so I don't even know what a "gray" is yet.  I feel like a fish out of water. I guess I will have those answers by the end of the week.  My RO is recommending 20 treatments and according to the study that was mentioned here, that is right on track with the current literature. I was just curious about a few comments I saw at the beginning of this thread.  A few of you said that you quit drinking diet coke immediately after diagnosis.  I don't drink coffee, but I do drink a few diet cokes a day - usually no more than two, sometimes only one.  Is this something they told you upon diagnosis?  I do know that drinking any kind of soda is probably not good for you, but I was wondering if there is some other info you were given about the diagnosis of breast cancer and diet coke?  Thanks for the info.

Peg

RMlulu

Good Morning y'all



April - congrats 1 done another in a few hours...rock it girl:)))

Peki007 - welcome to rads. Ask all your questions at mapping...your rad team will be glad to share about your care. Be your best advocate:) Don't know about soda...gave up caffeine and soda many moons / mammos ago...hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and moisturize. Ask you RO what creams they recommend and laugh at your tats and sharpie marks:))

MTJulie - yippee today 20/28...proud warrior smile:D. There's just something about more days behind then ahead and being in that final countdown...zip zap...go warrior!

Laurascott - congrats on rockin rads! Yeah, the big RX question...hummm. Let us know ... It's the part of tx that scares me the most...5 yrs...10yrs big commitment , but we've come so far Kickin butt! Best Wishes!

Drumroll today is my final full breast zip zap day 28! Then I have 5 boosts so next Monday is Happy Dancing:))) May 1 will be MO and RX decision. Anything for me and my girl:)



Fight on Warriors!

(((Hugs)))

Cindy

adagio

RMLulu - congrats on your final full breast rad. The boosts are so much easier!

Tomorrow is my final one. Saw my RO this morning and she is pleased at how my breast looks - it is quite red - but no broken skin. She has given me the go ahead to travel this coming weekend - so I am heading off to San Francisco for a few days - a much needed break.

April - let us know how it went for you on your first day - you will be done before you know it. 

Everyone else in treatments - hang in there - it does come to an end!

RMlulu

Yippee Adagio - the end of rads is near! And a get a away to SF:))) have fun by the bay. So many great places to eat and see. Enjoy your R&R...well deserved warrior!

Getting our my red sparkle heels for your Happy Dance:)

april485

YAY Cindy for being done with your rads (minus your boosts!) High five chica! LOL at "freeboobing" Since it is just me, hubby and my cat, I can free boob all I want but the question is do I want to hang it all out. My 58 year old boob ain't as perky as it was when I was 48..lol.

I have slathered lots of Eucerine all over my boob today. If I burn, will get some Aquaphor. I have some mepilex (a friend gifted me the rest of hers as she did rads last year) so if I get a hotspot, I can still wear a bra since I am working through this insanity!

Adagio, I am so happy that you are nearing the end of your trmt too with just boosts left. Wahoo!

But, I am 20% DONE! 2 of 10 already finished. I am psyched! I can feel it a little bit though which kind of surprised me this early. My boob is kind of warmish and a teeny tiny bit pinkish around my nipple..nothing bad yet but kind of worries me since I have 8 more of these.

My trmt takes about 15-20 mins total and that is cause at one point the techs have to come back in and turn the table around cause that is the one thing they can't do from out in the booth. My shoulder with the bursitis is pretty bad when they finish and I have a hard time getting it down from the behind my head position. Other than that, all good.

Does anyone else kind of "feel" the rads as they are piercing your skin? I could. I know that sounds crazy, but I could feel a kind of "tugging" inside...can't explain it.

Anyway, welcome Peki and congrats on doing a shorter protocol too. Mine is uber short though...I am in a clinical trial for partial breast rads which is like 10 boosts and DONE. Best to you!

Runfree, you are very loved with friends like that! Amazing how many people step up to the plate to help you when you need it. My coworkers  donated sick time to me in case I use all mine so that I don't have to use my vacation time for sick time. Also, another woman who went through rads last year gave me a goodie bag with creams, sports bras, t-shirts etc. Ah, good friends are priceless!

SherylB hope that your fatigue does not get too bad. Most people have said it comes and goes and that resting helps. If Cindy (RMlulu) is fatigued, man I want some of HER kind of fatigue. Our girl has more energy than the energizer bunny..lol

MTjulie, you are on your last leg of the journey girl! Congrats and hoping it doesn't get too much worse for you.

Laurascott, thanks so much! Congrats on being DONE! Woohooo! 7 boosts? Yowser, they really zapped you with 7 boosts to your area. Usually it is 5 I thought? Anyway, you're done! How great is that!!!

I have a brand new respect for those of you who do this every single day for 33 days. I know twice a day is tough so to go day in and day out for 6.5 weeks must be incredibly hard. Love to all of my fellow warriors! I feel kind of guilty getting off so light...maybe I should not say that cause who knows how crispy I will be by Friday at the final trmt.

I got to see a woman ring the bell this afternoon (At Yale it is a gong actually) and she cried and everyone clapped and I cried too. I am so emotional these days!

I love everyone today. I feel like hugging perfect strangers. I am a total emotional sponge today..lol

Will keep everyone posted about how it goes from here!

lemon68

Cindy, almost done..how are you feeling today? Hope she is holding up okay and those shades of pink dont hurt.

adagio- Tomorrow is it for you?? CONGRATS!! How are you feeling? So nice to be done. I am much better. Only area still charred is underarm and a bit on back. No bra yet but I keep trying. Lots of peeling happening, hoping when its over my new skin will be baby bottom soft. This is all tolerable compared so I am good.

laurascott- I got my RX for tami too.. didnt pick it up yet. I wanted 30 days to do nothing, but honestly I am just not sure I go back and forth on taking it.

Peg- I am a diet Pepsi drinker. I asked my MO on last visit and he said drink your diet pepsi. I know its not healthy but he said my diet pepsi did not cause my BC. I limit myself to 1-2 a day but I have never drank a cup of coffee and I enjoy it. I used to drink alot more. My MO says everything in moderation. I also asked about red meat same answer. He said the worst thing about the red meat isnt the hormones which I was concerned about he said the charring/burning from a grill is bad for everyone, interesting. I also asked about broccoli and it being a good food to fight cancer. He said I would have to eat a pick up truck of it daily to make a difference, again moderation.

RMlulu

Hey Lemon!



Tomorrow the drumroll for boosts! RO thinks I'm crazy keep asking all these questions...just want to know that the girl is gonna make it and I can book it back home 2 wks after last zap!

No guarantees...so let the boosts begin:)))

My girl is pink red little blisters on chest...my tumor field is at 12:30 adjacent to the chest wall...we will see! Rad techs said they would mark area tomorrow and that I would be on the table for a bit longer:(. But just want this done!

RX scares me...HT...hummm SEs for 5-10 yrs ugh:(. Next step.

Glad you are feeling better and skin is healing. I'm still into free boobing. RO says baby new skin is good! Ha

(((Hugs)))

Cindy

MMSS

Cindy, it pays to keep an open mind about hormone therapy. Some people have bad SEs and some don't just like some breeze through radiation and some suffer greatly. From friends that I have talked with my impression is that the people who do have bad SEs are more likely to seek out the message boards and post than those who do well. I think there is a better cross section on the surgery threads and on this one. I have been on aromasin for 8 months with minimal SEs. When I look at those tiny white pills and realize that they are essentially keeping me alive a little bit of joint pain and insomnia seems pretty insignificant. I took it preop and it shrunk the tumor dramatically and I will be on it for at least 5 years and maybe for life. I am just grateful that it works so well for me and that it saved me from having to have chemo. Of course that was also helped by an oncotype of 6. Congratulation on being almost done. Loved the 28 shades of pink quite. That is a classic.

AmyfromMI

Hi all! Just a quick note hoping everyone is doing well. I'm sitting and waiting for boost #2. After today, three more and I'm done!



Healing hugs to all!



Amy

AmyfromMI

Peki, I'm one of the women who quit diet coke cold turkey upon diagnosis.  I used to drink 1-2 per day.  No one told me to stop.  It's just something that I wanted to do for me.  I actually feel so much better for doing so.  The tummy bloat is gone as are all the other "tummy" problems.  Sorry, if it's TMI!    Don't get me wrong, I do treat myself to a diet coke, on occasion, but that's usually on the weekends when we go out for lunch or dinner.  I may have one over the course of two weeks.  I am also trying to eat organic and am trying to eliminate red meat, alcohol, processed foods, and sweets from my diet (as much as humanly possible - lol!).  Go ahead and enjoy your diet coke!  We can't let cancer take everything that is enjoyable in life from us!

Amy

RMlulu

Thanks MMSS - thanks for the perspective on HT. I've come this far to save my girl to fight for best odds for life...I'm a survivor ....MO soon...RX next on my list:)

29/33 4 more boosts and then ring that gong and Happy Dance:)))

(((Hugs)))

Cindy

peki007

Amy - thanks for the reply on the diet coke. I know what you mean on the tummy issues. So many times I just want to give it up and think I should just do it.  The worst is the diet coke from McDonalds.  I swear they must add something to it - it just tastes so good.  I know some people feel that way about coffee, but I never had.  I notice that our stats are about the same.  I just got my oncotype score yesterday (16) and I feel so very lucky that I don't have to have chemo.  How many rads did you have?  Lemon, I hear you on the good eating.  I know there are so many changes I need to make.  Your MO's answers were interesting.  It's good that you are trying to make some healthy changes - I KNOW what I need to do - doing them is a different story.  I just feel lucky to be given the chance.  Thanks, rads girls for making me feel welcome to this group.

adagio

I am finished ALL radiation treatments - my dancing shoes are red just like Cindy's, and the colour of my breast!!! I am so relieved to be done. Now I have to reinvent my life. Since I am triple negative, I don't have to deal with hormone treatments, so one less thing for me to think about.

Thoughts are with all of you still going through treatments and those who have still to start. You will be fine - the time goes very fast.

AmyfromMI

Yay adagio! Dance, dance, dance! Congrats on being done! Now, just enjoy life. :-)



Peki, I am having a total of 30 rads 2 gray each (23 full breast and 7 boosts). I have 3 more boosts to go!

april485

CONGRATULATIONS ADAGIO!!

Cindy and Amy, on the back end and almost done! Woohooo!

Lemon, hoping you are doing better honey. I know you really got it pretty bad in terms of skin issues. Huge hugs and let us know the first day you can wear a bra again! We will celebrate!

Report of clincal trial so far-

Whew! I am starting to feel the exhaustion I heard tell of. I can barely function. I am not sure if by Thursday I will be working in between or driving the 45 -50 mins by myself. I feel kind of spaced out (is that what you all felt like?) and dragging big time... not myself as I am usually fairly energetic. This morning I barely made 1/2 mile on my treadmill and I stopped. Normally I pump out 2.5 to 3 miles every day.

Also, the sting is starting. But, as a frame of reference, I am on treatment #13 in two days if I was having the regular 33 trmt protocol..13 is approximately 40% of 33 in case you are wondering how I came to that. But, tomorrow morning, I am HALF WAY THERE!! 50% done with trmt #5/10!  A tiny tiny bit of pink near the nipple but no other color/skin changes that I can see. I don't suspect I will see that until after I am done as that has been what has happened for others in this trial. Only ONE person had really severe peeling the RO told me. The rest was mild to moderate.

I don't have much of an appetite today. I felt nausea again this morning and I made sure to eat some protein (Greek yogurt) before rads. I brought soup for lunch but couldn't eat it so I left it in the fridge at work and might have it tomorrow. That is about it so far. Just really really tired. Could also be other things though, who knows?

Cindy, this may be redundant for you as I copied and pasted this from the Radiation Recovery thread cause why reinvent the wheel..lol Plus I am totally wiped out.

Heading for the couch. DH built a nice fire in the fireplace as it is really chilly and damp. Who knows? By Friday, I may want to see only ICE due to feeling like I am on fire..at least my left girl might feel that way.

Hugs to all!

jayjayc

RunFree16,

I'm so glad you mentioned the pictures...... I was almost afraid to ask if that had happened to anyone else   They took pictures of my boobs during my mapping and during my first treatment..... I mean I'm not shy (especially not about the boobs which have now been seen by many) but it was unexpected....

I'm done with 7 of 30 (I know whoope de do)....... Everything's fine so far but I did notice that the blue viens are more obvious in the boob getting radiation..... Any one else have that happen??

RMlulu

Yippee ADAGIO! Happy Dancing )) so happy for you brave warrior!

9 months of battle and you are a SURVIVOR ! Well done!

Sending happy thoughts and soothing blessings on your skin, body, and spirit!

(((Hugs)))

Cindy

RMlulu

Hi y'all



Well today was my first boost and more nudie girlie pics and funny sharpie drawings:)

I luv my rad tech they are so caring and offered to wash off the marks, but I wanted to take a few pics of my own...ha! Yes I'm documenting my girls life.



Amy you're a day ahead of me...woohoo!

April- speed dating has nothin on you girlfriend. Your speed zappin. May the force be with you!

Peek007- giving up soda was so hard, but did it cold turkey! Hard miss the fizz:) also gave up sugar ugh:(( I love to bake...family not too happy on that one...but I just can't make cookies and brownies without tasting to make sure their good, always had to at least 3X the recipe so it would make 2 dozen...yah that bad.

Lemon- healing thoughts ... Renewed baby skin...glowing (in a good way)

I'm so sleepy this week must be the rads...my BP is very low...think I will lube girl free boob and try and watch a movie...I think I can predict the outcome zzzzz.

(((Hugs)))

Cindy

MMSS

Someone sent me a great picture that I had my husband copy so I could take it in to the radiation techs. It shows a puppy sound asleep half in and half out of his food bowl. I titled it "Radiation Fatigue" and if one picture is worth a thousand words that one says it all. They put it up at their desk. We all know how the puppy feels!

lemon68

Adagio- Congratulations, you did it!! Whew, thank goodness its over!

Edited to say I hate the pink stuff but I love this Strong Warrior, so beautiful like the women here.

It says " I am giving you a head start" Your going to need it... F that damn cancer!!

Megroy23

Hello ALL, I'm trying to keep up but haven't logged in a few weeks. I have 11 more treatments to go, six of them my boost Tx so CONGRATS to ALL wherever you are in your schedule and journey. I just started seeing the redness and peeling (just a bit) but I definitely can't wear any type of spaghetti string tank top or even the softest of material that goes under the armpit area, if I'm just in a soft tee, I'm good! I've been using the Miaderm since it's free at the RO office and my husband is with a compounding pharmacy and they have come out with a new rad relief cream specifically for radiation burn and dermatitis that is working really well. I'm surprised at the fatigue I'm feeling though. I'm 43 and usually VERY active and although this is nothing compared to chemo; I am sometimes tired after being awake for only an hour in the morning.. that's just crazy to me. And I am not a big drinker by any means but I have celebrated a best friend's birthday and a few other occassions with close friends and had one, SMALL cocktail or wine... and it seems the next day I am extra fatigued.. can anyone relate to this?? I can easily give up the happy hour and I have had a neighbor say when she had radiation five years ago, she would get physically sick if she had a drink/beer during her rad tx. Again, prayers and best of luck to everyone. I am also Triple Negative so although I don't have to "deal with" hormone therapy, it scares me. I am looking forward to being done with cancer treatments seeing as I have been fighting actively since September 2012 but when the last day of rad comes, I feel like I am going to feel like "what now."? Just pray cancer never comes back? I am as uplifting to my friends and fellow fighters as this site's Cindy is but I definitely have that feeling of just.. "wow, I have no more to do as of May 9 other than live my life and enjoy every moment even more than I always have"... and I am a total EVERYTHING IN MODERATION girl... the coke / dessert sugars that we are told to avoid do not break down like other cells do so we are not giving ourselves cancer by enjoying a little of the sweet stuff and thankfully I love fruits and veggies just as much so don't beat yourselves up! We have fought like girls and have WON! Peace to all.

lemon68

Hi Meg,

Your journey has been long. Mine only 6 months and I just finished 16/16 Rads on April 8th. I am feeling that "what do I do now?" I do have my RX for Tamoxifen which I havent picked up but other than that I am free for now. Good time of year to finish as the weather begins to change. I am hoping to make it the best summer ever and just enjoy it all I can because I know come October I will be checked and scared to have to relive this again.

I know this is a time to heal, I thought from the radiation but I know now from ALL of it. Physically better, emotionally good and bad moments, we have all come a long way. I know I am not the same person I was walking into this, I am so much better, so much stronger and so much prouder, I hope we all feel that way.

xo

Megroy23

So true Lemon, we are definitely much stronger! I lost my brother to a inoperable brain tumor in December. I lost my mother to ovarian cancer when I was 15 and my father passed a few years back after having been a survivor for 15 years! It is our attitude that sets us apart and I firmly believe that laughter is the best medicine. My family members battled their personal journeys with such grace that I have no plans than to do the very same thing! Thank you for responding.. I will check in with everyone more often, it is definitely helpful and uplifting to be a part of this loving, understanding group! XOXO