Summer 2013 Rads

ldesim

Part of me is glad to have 2 days off rads and part of me wishes it continued over the weekend so I can just be done with it!  17/30.. closing the gap

Robin3

I had x-rays and stuff today and found out i'm starting RADS on monday. I thought I was starting next week. I'm both excited to start and just get this over with since I don't have any choice, and Nervous! I hate starting something new. I'm so afraid i'll have bad burns or any other side effects! Good luck to everyone starting with me!

Robin

ldesim

You'll be fine, it's never as bad as we build it up to be  

I'm going to be more nervous when it's over.. it will be like... ummm.. now what?  I think I will feel lost!

Anonymous

JrzyGirl22 - Congrats on getting that lumpectomy done.  Be gentle with yourself this weekend.  I just had my 3rd out of 15 RADS appointment today and it really was not that bad.  I use the Aloe Vera and cream the RO recommended 3 x daily tho to keep the skin in good shape.   All the BEST to U.

TMM60

19/35 today, skin is not too bad, a bit red and some itchy bumps, but the cream the RO gave me does just fine to soothe that. I get my sim for the boosts on Monday. On the downward slope now!

pattithenurse

Nyama-Another Oregonian? I'm here outside of Eugene,you? Good luck women with this stretch of the ride!!!

Anonymous

Hi pattithenurse -- I'm in Canby, which is between Portland and Salem, but basically a rural suburb of Portland.  I went to graduate school in Eugene, though (go ducks!) so lived there for about 8 years and know and love it well!!

Getting ready to get on the plane and come home and then get ready for rads starting Monday  Yippee?  I'll just be so happy to have it behind me.  Starting to lube up the girl daily in preparation!  

IamNancy

Idesim - you said -I'm going to be more nervous when it's over.. it will be like... ummm.. now what?  I think I will feel lost! -- I have wondered the same thing.. we've been actively fighting and treating for this cancer for months - I still don't know whether to say I had breast cancer or have breast cancer.. I know its gone or I think its gone..

anyway, 12 treatments left and the fatigue is really setting in.. skin still is ok though and for that I am grateful.

Heart2930

Idesim- I noticed from your profile that you started tamoxifen prior to radiation. How is that going for you? I am actually more worried about the SEs from tamoxifen than I am about the radiation. I start tamoxifen the day after I end radiation.



Hope everything is going smoothly for everyone!

Anonymous

I just realized while reading posts that I didn't update you Girls on the results of the Pet scan I had on Wed. My onc called that afternoon, and said scan showed NO abnormalities, but she was going to have the bone surgeon look at my MRI from last week to be sure nothing was missed and to see if he felt a bone biopsy of the arm & spine are in order.



I'm still believing its only arthritis. I've had that for years in both areas in question.



Badger on another thread asked me, "if I ever thought I'd be hoping for arthritis." I guess BC puts a different spin on everything.



Paula

TMM60

So glad for you, Paula!

Heart2930

Congrats Soteria! BC does put a different spin on things.

sciencegal

Congrats Soteria! The bone scans are so scary. The tech who did mine was obviously very concerned and it showed. He kept needing to get better images "to make sure" - I was freaking out inside. Turned out there is just residual bone scarring from a broken pelvis I had years ago (horse accident).

So I, too, am hoping you have arthritis! Sorry you still have a little more uncertainty.



I have my sims on June 17th and then start rads soon after that. I am feeling nervous, but reading these posts and how you are all handling it so bravely does help me. Thank you!



Does anyone have a link to the best emu oil? i keep seeing that referred to but dont know where to get it.

Thanks and happy saturday from sunny HOT California.

Anonymous

Idesim - ME 2!  Woke up this morning and said to myself, "WOW, I am so glad I do not have to get up for RADS today.  3 down 12 to go and then the blessed oophorectomy and who knows what type of killer drug the MO will try to  start me on after that!

AnnieLane

Sciencegal, I ordered Thunder Ridge Emu Oil in the dark solid blue bottle from Amazon after reading the reviews of that and some other brands. I've never used emu oil before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it seems very emoilent and it absorbs nicely so it doesn't leave a greasy feel. Some people claim emu oil is also good for growing hair back after chemo and I've been massaging it into my scalp once a day too. I don't know if it's doing any good, but I figure it can't hurt.

GoWithTheFlow

thanks Annie.

What am I missing?  Trying to order products I may need before I start radiation and also add them to the list of info/questions to share with my RO. 

I have the emu oil and the aquafor lotion.  Also going to ask about any supplements she might recommend.  Anything else?

regbeach

My mom starts radiation on Tuesday- the shortened Canadian regimen.  Should I be putting aloe on her now (I am her caregiver since her stroke last year)?  The dr. seems fine with waiting. 

More importantly, when I put it on, where should I put it exactly- all over her entire breast on the side that is getting radiation and under the armpit (near incision)?  Do I need to wash it off before she goes to radiation the next day?  Right now, she gets shower every other day from an aide.   Of course, I could wash that area on the other days.

Michele2013

I use aquafor and hydrocortisone. Mix it together in my hands and apply generously. My ro told me to start the aquafor at the beginning, work proactively. Then the itching will come, the hydrocortisone works great.



Just make sure if you use the itch cream to use the aquafor in conjunction, due to the drying of the cream.



Hugs

GoWithTheFlow

thank you!  Will add that to my list.

sciencegal

Thank you Annie! I will order that emu oil. MUCH appreciated!

If it helps the skin it should indeed help the hair follicles as well- best of luck with quick regrowth.

Heart2930

Regbeach- I was told to use the aloe twice a day right from the start. I was not told I had to wash it off prior to rads. I put it on in the morning. Go to rads at 3pm, and then put it on before bed again. Best of luck !

Anonymous

Regbeach - I was told to use the aloe and a cream they suggested (RadioPlex) 3 times daily.  Put one on first and let it dry.  Then use the second one.  I was told to apply it under by breast, all over my breast, under my arm and up to my collarbone.  And yes, was also told NOT to use it before RADS.  Also told to give up deodorant under my left arm and no more under wire bras (for those who care).  BEST to all.  I am doing the Canadian thing too and have treatment 4 tomorrow out of 15.  It is really not too bad!

ldesim

Heart, I've been on Tami for a bit over a month and so far no side effects. From what I understand though, they don't appear for a little while although some have reported immediate SE's.  I too was afraid of taking it, but after dwelling on it for a few weeks, I decided I was even more afraid of recurrence.

cmbernardi I hope you enjoyed your radfree days.. I know I have Back to the grind tomorrow.

Iamnancy, I know.. I guess its must one more adjustment period.

Paula, never thought I'd ever be saying this, but I hope to hell you have arthritis!

feif49

Hi ladies- I just found this thread and hope you don't mind me jumping in? I was diagnosed in late March and had surgery a week later. I then waited a month for my Oncotype results and because they were low got to skip chemo. I am 4 weeks into radiation and wanted to let you all know that it is not too bad…

I am taking LOTS of vitamins/supplements that I have read help with energy and while I am becoming progressively more tired as the treatment progresses, it is totally manabeable. I have been using coconut oil exclusively and the RAd nurse said she has never seen anyone wihtout burns after 16 treatments. I don't have a mark on my breast…

I did have some nausea early on and some water weight gain. I learned that it is really important to drink TONS of water while getting RADs, your kindneys need it to funtion properly and that solved both the nausea and the water weight gain.

I hope this helps a little and feel free to ask me anything…

I am looking to see if anyone has begun their research on tamoxifen too? that seems more daunting to me than anything I have faced so far so I am hoping to share info on that as well.

Thanks and so glad to have found you all!

ChickaD

Hi Feif......thanks for info.....where do you get the coconut oil and how did you know to use it?

AnnieLane

Regbeach, I was told to avoid putting any cream or aloe gel on within 4 hours before a radiation treatment so I won't have any residue on my skin.

Lin43

It is weird that we find ourselves happy about arthritis but Paula, we are so happy that that is what it looks to be! I also have arthritis and have found that Turmeric capsules (with black pepper for better absorption) help relieve inflammation. My integrative medicine oncologist recommended Gaia brand, 1 to 1 1/2 grams/day. Not sure if you can take that much during rads. I have had what they call "gel joints" from Herceptin (some women get this side effect) and the turmeric has lowered my pain as much as the Percocet did. 

I am quite red...blasted daily Bolus...and I have an itchy radiation rash area, but my RO and the techs say I look better than they expected. I told them that my skin starts the day looking like a rose', then turns into a merlot and then finally a cabernet by nightfall. A fine wine, indeed! Ha!!! Eight more right chest and axillary treatments and then five boosts to my mastectomy scar. I have an internal fire going on that drives me nuts and I am very tight so I keep stretching my arm/chest area to relieve that. My coolpad is great! It has been 110 here this weekend and using it cools me right down.

I had a good weekend regardless of my skin bothering me. I went to a Downton Abbey Tea at the library yesterday and won the trivia contest so I get "tea for eight" as a prize. And a lady at the tea told me she likes my "haircut". SHe doesn't know it is growing out from chemo--it is only an inch+ long but is coming in thick. But anyway, the tea had yummy food and such pretty tea china. Wish I could invite you ladies. I will drink the tea in honor of all of you, though!!! Tea is good for us, right?! 

Will you be ringing the bell when you finish radiation? I pass it going in every day, but I still have 5 months of weekly Herceptin infusions after radiation so I don't really feel like I am finished ... though the Herceptin is to reduce recurrence and my pathology was good after chemo and surgery. So am I a bc survivor or a bc patient or what??? Will we ever feel as though we are really done with this??? 

Welcome to everyone starting out.  There is such a wealth of information and support on here! 

Gentle hugs to all!

Linda 17/30

IamNancy

Lin-congrats on winning the tea! that is awesome!

good info on the Turmeric capsules - I have arthritis but with so much else going on, it hasn't bothered me..however, I might need it when I start the meds next month..

Robin3

Today is my first day of radiation! Wish me luck. One of my stickers bunched into a ball over the weekend, I hope it doesn't mess up treatment. How long did you guys have markings until they tattooed you??

Thanks for your help. :-)

Heart2930

Robin3- They tattooed me right at my sim. I am going today for another sim for the boosts and wonder if I will get more tattoos. Good Luck on your first day!

Feif49- There is a ton of info out there on Tamoxifen, and most is it is kind of scary. I found a great thread in the Hormonal Treatment forum that is for people who had not had any SEs to relate their experience. Reading through this has really helped me with my concerns. Although Tamoxifen is scary, at least for me I think it is necessary. I left surgery with positive margins that we are not able to get clean. So Tamoxifen will hopefully go a long way to making sure I don't have a recurrence.

Idesim- Thanks for the info. Hopefully like you I will not have any SEs.

Today is 18 out of 30. Over the 1/2 way hurdle!!!!