Fall 2013 Rads

Creck

Finished 7 of 28 yesterday, so far so good! Has anybody been told to use cornstarch on the treated area?

cakes

Imamom, put that drive time to work and listen your favorite tunes. Music is healing and reminds us of happy times in our lives. Sing your heart out! Music is good Sister. 

ItIsWhatItIs2013

I'm 6 of 33 and my boobie has started to itch.. Little twinges inside.... A friend of mine suggested & gave me some lavender oil... I used it tonight & felt instant relief! U can use it neat.... I don't think I'll use during my full week of rads, cuz it's an oil, but on the weekend when I don't get rads.... Oh yeah!



I'm 6/33.... And felt pain today. Of course, I finished chemo last month and glad to be feeling good so I may be over doing it right now....



Wow.... The lavender really made my breast feel better! I'm not much on homeopathic stuff, but........

Neelie2

Cakes: Have you heard of a cream called Calmoseptine?  I haven't had radiation yet, Monday I have surgery to remove left lymph nodes.  I helped a friend from church that had terrible bed sores, her Doctor had us use calmoseptine, it really worked well.  When My Mom was dying she had bed sores and a terrible raw looking spot that covered her whole cheek.  I got some calmoseptine and the hospise nurse couldn't believe how fast it worked.  Just recently my neighbor told me her son had diaper rash really bad and she'ld tried everything and nothing was working.  I lent her my calmoseptine, when she brought it back she said it cleared up the rash completely.  Maybe you could ask your doctor about it.  Good luck, I hope you get your skin healed. 

lpc

Stacie my ro is a wonderful woman who does not believe in permanently marking women with tats. She uses permanent marker with a small circle of tape over it. The marker does not come off in shower and I will finish with no tats. The tape stays on also but they can replace them when they get lose. Love this woman.



Lisa

Imamom

Finished 1/27! I was really tired driving to the hospital, but the drive back was ok. Cranked up the music for the drive! I took my computer with me and got a few hours of work done from a coffee shop at the hospital before coming home. That way I didn't have to drive an hour and turn around after half an hour. It worked out well! I was home in time to pick up my daughter from day care.

The hospital staff was so nice and they were so respectful of my modesty. Is it crazy that I already feel sensitive on the radiated side? They said I wouldn't feel anything until treatment 7 or even 15, but it's already feeling a bit off. Maybe it's just in my head. I used aloe gel, but the pharmacy recommended that I get a gel that they make made of aloe, lavender oil, tea tree oil and vitamin e- anyone have experience? It sounded good to me. I love lavender oil, it's so soothing. I'll ask them at the hospital tomorrow if they have a problem with it.

ItIsWhatItIs2013

Imamom,

The hospital gave me colandula cream and a friend of mine gave me lavender oil. Studies have shown the benefit for burns.... I use the cream during the weekdays & just started adding the lavender to it this weekend... It was so soothing, but I'm scared of adding anything with the word "oil" during the days that I get my zaps. So I'm just gonna lube the boob with creams during the week and add the lavender oil on the weekends when I get my break from zaps.... we'll see how it goes. I think it's too soon to tell if its doing any good.

So far so good... I'm done with 6 of 33 & feels like my boobie is a little larger. The twinges I felt the first few days have seemed to stop. Got a little itchy yesterday, but the cream with the lavender took that right away...



Good luck to all!



Lorrie

cakes

Well Sisters, I spoke too soon. I am getting a funky red bumpy rash, mostly on my chest and top side of my breast. I was told to use 2% hydrocortisone if that were to happen and yes, it started up yesterday afternoon.

Neelie2, I have not heard of Calmoseptine but you can bet I am going to look for some. Sounds like it just might be the ticket. Thank you thank you.

Regarding tats, I can certainly understand why some would not want them. I remember when my mom went through radiation (age 70) she refused to have the tats. I have always wanted a tat but never would have gotten one. I now have two! LOL! They actually look like little freckles.

Iamamom, kudos to you for making lemonade out of lemons. Music soothes the soul. 

Here's to a wonderful week all!

4sewwhat

Just a Monday funny to get the week started!  Good Luck to all those starting rads today.  I am among you!  And continued wishes for uneventful rads for those of you already on the road.  Have a great week everybody!

cakes

4sewwhat! LMAO! Laughing all the way to rads.

MsPharoah

4sewwhat!  Very funny and needed on a Monday morning. 

Had #18 this morning and holding up well so far.  I am planning to go to Chicago after treatment 27 for my Grandson's first birthday and hoping, hoping, hoping that I will be OK.  RO said that I was doing well and to go for it!  It will be the first time wearing my compression sleeve.   And this will be a surprise for son and daughter-in-law.  They think only grandfather is coming.  (I will also get to see my other 2 grandsons who will be attending the birthday festivities).  Something to look forward to in an otherwise dreary treatment cycle. Hope you all have a wonderful, side-effect free week.

Sandra

4sewwhat

Number one is in the bag! 32 more to go ! Five minutes on the table, hardly worth the drive.

graceforme

Hi ladies, I had #30/33 today. Silvadene has helped with the pain in my underarm. I have noticed a slight problem with swallowing & I'm hoping it doesn't get any worse.

cakes

I was going to buy some Silvedene but upon researching it I noted it contains sulfa; I am allergic to sulfa products.

Back to the Aquaphor and and aloe. 

MsPharoah

Yes, cakes....I am also allergic to sulfa!  My RO has it in bold letters on my treatment file and I could tell he is disappointed that silvadene won't be in our tool box.  Let's cross our fingers that we won't need it.

Sandra

canuck46

4sewwhat- LOL!!! Glad your 1st day went quickly.  Mine is tomorrow.

MsPharoah - You deserve to have something so wonderful to look forward to.  We will all be cheering you on.  I love Chicago - my youngest daughter lives there.

Healing thoughts to all.

4sewwhat

Bummer. Count me out on the sulfa thing too found out the hard way almost all diuretics contain it too.

cynthiaintx

Hello ladies!  I get to start rad next week, with my initial visit on Wednesday 10/2.  I'm prepared for dealing with the skin issues, but... what worries me is fatigue.  I'm already bone-weary as a side effect of an anticoagulant (Xarelto) that I'm taking because I developed a pulmonary embolism the week after surgery - that was four lovely days in the hospital.  On the good side, it takes me out of having to do the five years of Tamoxifen!  On the bad side... I'm so tired right now, I can't imagine what being nuked 5x a week will do!

I'm moving to a new home the end of October, smack-dab in the middle of all this.  The move was planned before I was even diagnosed... so besides trying to get everything packed before rads really starts (I mean like paper plates and red cups!), how can I fight this fatigue?  Are there any holistic methods?  What about b-12 shots?  I'm already on a good multi, extra D, as well as taking a thyroid med because mind just is totally toasted.  Oh yeah, and don't forget working full time.  At least it's a desk job...

Thanks for any ideas!

Kruise

Hi gorgeous ladies.

I just started my rads yesterday - so have two down now and 28 more to go. The last 7 being Boost treatments.

Great to read the posts and see what to expect as obviously it's still very early days for me yet.

Keep up the useful information!

K xx

LisaSp

Going for the simulation tomorrow. Rads start at end of October. Hope tattoos don't hurt!

Imamom

Lisa- the tattooed are so small, it's just one tiny pinch and then it's over! After all we've been through, it's nothing. And this is coming from someone who thought the worst part of chemo was putting in the IV needle.... I HATE needles. My RO promised me no needles during rads. Small comforts.

CarlaK

Looks like several of us started officially today! The first of 33 done for me. Wishing everyone an easy time. Next week I start back to work part time from home, so hoping for minimal side effects as I crank my brain back into gear

susaninicking

Hello Fall Rads Ladies, 

Found this thread just now while looking for the right spot for info on Rads. I finished chemo at the end of August and had planned on starting radiation almost immediately but had a problem mammogram, a problem MRI and thank God a clear biopsy but all of this delayed the start of my radiation due to needing some time to heal. My planning CT is tomorrow and I start rads on 10/10 at 10 a.m. so I'm hoping this is all a good sign! I really wanted tattoos but no luck at my hospital...tape and marker...seems like it might be kind of cumbersome. One thing I really am wondering about if anyone knows, is how are the number of treatments determined? 

Bounce

I think its a factor of the type of cancer and stage and grade - as well as which facility you attend.

I thought this article was interesting because it gave lots of info and things to ask the RO - like - is this treatment the only option for me or could I benefit from something else?

It is an old article but still seems relevant.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/health/research/23canc.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Ladies - has anyone had rads lying on their stomach rather than on their back?

canuck46

Cynthiaintx - Breathe!!  You are doing well with all on your plate.  Just started RADS today and I was told the fatigue doesn't come right away and some people never experience it.  Hope we are in the last group!  I know it is hard to take a quick nap when working full time but even 20 mins. at lunch or break might help you past it.

Welcome Kruise & CarlaK.-  Just started today - 1 down and 29.

LisaSp- "tats" didn't hurt. So quick so tiny looks like tiny dot!

Imamom

When do you ladies apply the aloe Vera? Right after treatment? I have treatment in the morning or early afternoon and put on the aloe Vera at night before I go to bed. Is there a better time to apply so that I minimize the risk of burn?

Kruise

Thanks Canuck46 - sounds like you are having 30 treatments like me. We are a day ahead of you time wise being in New Zealand .....plus it's actually our Spring not Fall

So I'm just about to head to my number 3 zap shortly being Wednesday.

And CarlaK welcome also.



LisaSp I had the 3 tat dots - the only one that scratched a little was the one in the centre of my chest but the other two fine. It is very quick! And the dots hardly visible. It's a good job they know what they are looking for. Each day they draw around them again with a marker pen so they are clearly visible for lining up the beams but it washes off in the shower. I am still adjusting to the whole process as it is a bit freaky still being left in the room with those machines lol. I have both arms above my head holding the handles and am paranoid of moving at all I guess I will get used to it. I lay there and just shut my eyes and visualise any cancer cells lurking being gunned down with the buzzing of the machine. Hehe. My first appt on Monday took a little while as they took X-rays and rechecked their co-ordinates from my planning scan. Yesterday was a lot quicker and I was told it would get quicker again still. I think I have another ct scan planned for halfway through and there is a clinic with the rad onc once a week for them to check up on how I'm going. That is a Wednesday so don't know if I will see them today or whether they will wait until next week when I'm into it a bit more.

We have a system here where they give you a gown and a named cubbyhole (locker) for the week and you take your gown from there and get changed - just stripping off top half - and after you finished you put the gown back in your cubbyhole for the next day. At the end of the week they collect them all up to wash and you start again. I take my cream in now to slather on afterwards - and it helps wipe off the marker pen.

I am hoping that I don't start getting any red symptoms till at least next week.



I have about a 25 minute drive into hospital and then back again - so that is probably the most frustrating part. There is another hospital 3 minutes drive away from where I live but they don't have the comprehensive radiation department. At least I got the time I wanted - late morning - so I can always meet a friend for lunch etc.



Best of luck my lovelies - Kia Kaha (that is Stay Strong in Maori) xxxoooxxxxx

honeybair

Hi Cynthia, like you, I also take Xarelto complements of a blood clot development while on Taxol and I have to take it for a total of 6 months.  I am still fighting chemo fatigue as well plus post mastectomy recovery fatigue.  I get a B-12 injection once a month in a very high dose and it really does help me in giving me more energy.  My rad schedule has been postponed from beginning on the 10th until "we will call you to let you know when" so I am not dealing with that tiredness yet. I did have radiation 12 years ago while I worked full time but did not notice any tiredness from it, just depression which I have been informed by my RO is not a known side effect.  Fatigue is a known side effect of all the chemo, surgery and radiation is my understanding.  It will just take time to get through it.  Some days are worse than others.  Right now I am bone weary and part of my tiredness is probably from frequently waking up at night.  I still sleep in a recliner because sleeping in my bed causes too much pain.

I know you are having a very hard time because you are working full time and your move will be tiring as well.  Other than taking the B-12 injection, I do not know what else to offer in the way of advice.  I just wish you well.

MsPharoah

Hello ladies, good to hear from you all!

Cynthiaintexas,  I'm not sure if it will help, but I found that pushing myself to take a brisk walk every morning for about 45 minutes really helped with the fatigue during chemo and now radiation.  There were some days that I couldn't make it, or I had to push thru,  but I truly think it helped. I hope you do well thru rads!  You need a break.

Susaninicking, when I asked my RO about why I was getting 28 regular and 6 boosts instead of 5 boosts, he said it was his personal preference and then added..."If you only want 5 boosts, that's fine!".  That did not comfort me at all.  I want to know what the science/experience is around the treatment selection and it seems that does not exist anywhere.  So now I have to decide?  I talked to my daughter and she said...have the extra boost, kill more cancer!.  Oh well!!  I am still googling to find the guidelines on how much radiation we should have for what cancer type and have found nothing.  If anyone knows where to find the info, I would love that.

Bounce, I am having my radiation in the prone position.  I am right sided and I had to request it.  Fortunately I have large breasts and it turned out to be the better position anyway.  I will have to have my boosts supine.  So far, I like the prone position, although you get more skin changes in the cleavage area instead of the armpit.  Not sure yet which is best.

Imamom, I'm not an expert.  I have my treatment at 7:40 and after treatment, I cover the rashy, itchy areas with Hydrocortisone 1% cream( OTC) and rub that in.  Then I use a cosmetic sponge and slather Aquaphor all over the top side of my bood, real thick.  Then I use a package of guaze pads.  The first one I smear over the top side of the boob, then place that guaze on the underside that didn't get greased.  Then I cover the top of the boob with the other guaze pad in the pack.  Then put my bra on.  The guaze holds the messy aquaphor on the skin and protects my clothing.  The sponge makes applying the aquaphore easy peasy.  At night, I use more hydrocortisone, then apply the aloe.

Lisa, tattos don't hurt but I wish that I had asked NOT to have them.  Found out later that you can refuse them and they are fine with marker and stickers.  I guess live and learn.

Carla, good luck returning to work.  Be kind to yourself.

Hoping for a side effect free week for all.

Sandra

LisaSp

Everyone:



Thanks. The simulation was fine though the tattoos DID hurt, momentarily. Probably because I'm skinny and the tech really jabbed me (I've got bruises now). Ah, well at least it can only be done once.



It was interesting though and my friend who came with me got some cool iPhone shots of me and the lasers.



It did cross my mind that I could insist on no tattoos but for accuracy's sake since the radiation is right next to my heart, I prefer it. Though I'd prefer they were henna tats.