Summer Rads 2014

Rosiesride

thanks Amelia123!  I also worried about rads but it was a waste of my time!! Please don't worry...most facilities are fast, punctual ( unless machine issues or back up) and techs are precise and quick! My Guys are great!  The sim was not long for me...I pre occupied myself by saying a set of different prayers!! Lol...my rads are 40 minutes from home so that is the hassle for me....only read the good experiences on here...try not to worry!! Good luck and let us know how it goes...I just started this week...5 down 31 to go so we are almost on the same schedule ! Rosie

Curlyq1974

Count it all and Rosieride, I am 8 weeks from last chemo with same treatment as you both.  My tingle in my fingers really didn't start until after chemo - a little surprising.  And now that you mention heavy legs, I didn't really know if it was that was because I am so out of shape from taking a break from exercising during all this fun or if it was chemo related, but my legs are super heavy or out of shape... take your pick!   Every day gets better and my hair is slowly growing back!  Maybe by Christmas, I will have a short, short hairstyle  

Rads - I have had a nightmare.  Not so much the radiation but the scheduling and timing of them.  What a nightmare!!!  Hope eveyone has a great weekend!

Brwneyedgirl

I finally felt like me this week at 6 weeks PFC.  I start rads Monday and worry about the fatigue.  I have 16 regular and boosts.  Another round of Herceptin today.  Oh and my legs felt like lead weights for weeks PFC.

Have a good day everyone. ~ D

 

aff

I agree with everyone about feeling worse after chemo. At 3 or 4 weeks PFC I felt like every bone and joint in my body was in pain. I am now 8 weeks PFC and all of that has subsided. I saw my PS yesterday as I am 3 weeks post surgery and he cleared me for radiation. I go for my initial consultation this afternoon. I just keep telling myself that I'm coming down the home stretch. 

Sunshineinky

I only have 7 boost left.  Rads were no issue other than the drive (40 min each way) until I got to treatment 20 or so.  That's when I developed skin issues.  Not everyone does but I'm larger breasted and the girls aren't as perky as they used to be! I'm thankful my boost are nowhere near my current issues and hopefully they can start healing! Good luck to each of you! It is the home stretch! 

Happy Friday!

Rosiesride

well it seems from about 4 posts I read, between weeks 5-8 past chemo, maybe things start feeling better...hoping!!

Curlyq...your rads situation sucks for having to wait that long and being left on the table for more than 10 minutes!  I really hope that gets better!! Rosie

ohiofan

Finished rads yesterday!!  16 with 6 boosts.

I have a bit of itching, but no real skin issues.  I used Aquaphor only. Like others, the drive was the worst part....30 miles each way.

The discharge instructions said to watch for issues for another 2 weeks.  Stay out of the sun and watch for sun issues for a year.

Cleveland Clinic staff members have been wonderful. 

Now on to the "Demon Pills."

 

PinkCarn

I just completed the first 3 weeks of 6.5 weeks of rads. It is Friday and I am feeling tired and some achy joints. Is this is a common SE? Can folks share their experience?

Lisaj514

Amelia, I'll be 10 weeks PFC this Monday and like you my brows and lashes finished their molting after chemo was done. They thinned during chemo but fell out totally afterwards. they are slower growing so the growth stage is different. Mine started coming back in about 4 weeks post chemo seeing stubble for eyelashes and about 6 wks for the eyebrows. It seemed like so long. I've had 15/34 rad treatments so far and no redness yet but some hypersensitivity in the skin on the side of my boob. I'm really afraid of what is to come looking at others

Rosie, my legs feel heavy too and my feet hurt, mostly in the morning or when I sit for too long. I feel better actually when moving or walking. Keep up your exercise, sounds like you are doing well

Curlyq, how are the appts going? Still shouldn't wait that long but at least it's better. Just for comparison, I'm in and out in less than 15 minutes. My appt is at 9:15 and past few days I am back in my car before 9:30 it actually seems unbelievable how something this important (and expensive) can be done in such a short amt of time.

Sunshine, count it all, barb, how are the boosts going?

MomMom

Hello Ladies,

I will be starting rads in August.  My last Taxol is July 17, and I'm told it will be anywhere from 2-4 weeks after, once my blood work is back to normal.  Just reading some of these posts has me re-thinking having my port out as soon as I can post chemo.  I may be going on Zometa and if so, would get my first infusion before having it removed.  But if I need weekly blood work for counts during rads (didn't realize that!), I may leave the port in?  Ugh.  I was really looking forward to having it removed.  Do most women leave it in during rads to make it easier if there are weekly blood counts?  Thanks!

Paula

Deblc

Count_it_all:  6 weeks PFC and feel so much better. Appetite back, tastebuds back, was starting to get more energy back and feeling somewhat "normal". My main problem now is still the fatigue. After two weeks of rads, seems my energy is flagging again, every afternoon I crash. The summer heat is not helping either (I'm in Jamaica and every day our weather report says " feels like 100°F"

 I am also still on Herceptin every three weeks and it makes me short of breath and anxious for a few days after infusion. Neuropathy (mostly stiffness) in my hands is getting better and I finally see some hair coming in !!! Rads have been a breeze so far (after getting physio to get my arm in shape to hold over my head)....hoping my skin holds up. All in all, I feel SO much better now that chemo is done.

Rosiesride

mommom...ask RO about bloodwork...I don't have it done so I got my port out before rads...but if you are getting infusions then keep it in...

Lisaj...yes, legs are weird in the morning or when sitting too long...better when moving.

Finished 1 week of rads!  31 more days to go...I am getting 36 with 8 being boosts...seems like a lot!!

Anyone else have these young kids doing your rad therapy?  These boys are like my sons age...like 25!!  Kind of funny and weird at the same time....Rosie 

Lisaj514

Paula, I don't have blood work during rads. I don't think that is common. Had my port out 3 wks after ending chemo. No further infusions needed for me. Did blood work 1 month after finishing chemo and had it the usual way.

ktfelder

Just finished week 4 of rads. I have 8 more days of full treatment, then 5 days of boosts (I think). Skin is holding up very well (knock on wood). I was more tired last week than this week - go figure! The end is in sight!

Sunshineinky

Kt I had my first boost today.  Not bad but my butt was kicked with fatigue today.  I feel much better after my nap! 

Ohiofan which demon pills are you going to take? I started tamoxifen when I started rads.  1st week no side effects, 2nd week sucked lol however after that 2nd week I have had no side effects except night sweats (fixed with a fan) and a bit of insomnia.  It seems to be getting better.  

Rosie my techs are all older than me. I like it that way too! 

Deb I think some of my fatigue is from heat too.  It's been very humid here in Kentucky these past few weeks! 

Paula I had bloodwork every two weeks since I started rads.  I didn't do chemo but there has been a slight decline in my blood counts. 

Lisa the boost isn't that bad but it seemed like I got zapped for a really long time today.  

It's the weekend ladies!! Let's enjoy it!!

Crazywabbit

Lisa, have not started my boost yet. today was 21/33, last 5 are the boost. Skin hold up pretty good,  no really red areas yet. Glad for the weekend off and esp. next week with a 3 day weekend to recover.

MomMom- I a keeping my port for now also. No blood test at all during rads but I will be starting zometa every 6 months for 2 years.  Since the port does not really bother me I am content to leave it in now. 

peaceful healing week end to all.

rettemich

Just a question. Did you all get a run through before starting the boosts? Did your RO come in? Did they talk to you? Just want to know what your experiences were. If you all don't mind sharing.

Sunshineinky

Rett my RO didn't come in.  No run through.  Just markings, pictures treatment then more pictures.  They did say they would be doing pictures each day since its such a small field to make sure it's going to the right spot.  

Rosiesride

crazywabbit...are you getting a total of 36 rads, last 8 boosts?  That's what I am getting...seems like a lot!! Rosie

Crazywabbit

Rosie. No total 33, 28 whole breast and 5 boost.  Actually only 26 to supra clavicular  LN area. 

Most plans are for a total of 60 Greys and how they fractionated it determines the number if treatments. I get 1.8 at each session, you may be getting a smaller dose with a few extra session to make the same total. 

Cannoli1

Sunshineinky,

Congrats on your last whole breast radiation. I have 9 rads left.....5 whole breast and 4 boosts. I am looking forward to being done. I've had 18 rads now, and I am ready for this to be over with. So far, the only areas that are really bothering me are my underarm and the creases underneath my underarm. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my last 9 treatments are good to me. I pray that the radiation does not affect my tissue expander.

I also have really had no problems with Tamoxifen. I've been on it for about 5 weeks now. My appetite was not what it usually is the first week or so, but that seems to have cleared up. I do have hot flashes every night, but even they seemed to have eased up a bit. Did not sleep well last night though due to the irritation under my arm from radiation.

Sunshineinky

Cannoli what are you using on your irritated arm? 

I have a fairly significant burn so I'm doing a 15 minute saline soak them I use silvadene. It helps enough that I can get to sleep. 

Cannoli1

Sunshineinky,

I am using Fruit of the Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel and Aquaphor. I have not put deodorant on my left underarm the past couple of days because I fear this will make it worse. I am hoping with the weekend break from radiation, I'll at least be able to wear some deodorant to work Monday. Going back to work last week was tough. But, I must stick it out through radiation. My employer has held my position through my entire treatment, and I do not want them to let me go now. I really love my job and where I work.

Rosiesride

cannoli...I see you have ILC ...is tamoxifen the better drug to treat ILC?  I need to have bloodwork to see where I am at with menopause...entering chemo I still had a period ...at 54 years old!! Really??? Anyway, after rads in mid august oncologist will see what drug I should be on...I forget which one is best for ILC , bone loss, menopause, etc...too much to remember!! Rosie

ohiofan

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  Very hot and humid in Ohio, so we did a farmer's market this morning and I am now inside and expecting my daily afternoon fatigue.  The doc said that will probably continue for a few weeks.  The mild itching continues especially where the bra rubs in that underarm crease.  Aquaphor continues..

Rett, I had a short sim before boosts.  Every Monday was x-ray day to check for positioning and Tuesday was DocDay.  I couldn't see the doc during the sim, but I heard his voice.  He answered my questions on docday, but wasn't very talkative.  maybe shy??

Has anyone ever seen their physicist?  The techs thought he was going to replace a motor one day, but the slowness of the machine corrected itself.  Where is he during rads????

Cannoli, I was told to Not use deodorant, but use cornstarch applied with a makeup brush instead.  It was okay.  (Do you make cannoli??  My grandmother's cannoli and pizzelles were the best.)

Sunshine, wish you could have stopped treatment when I did.  I think if I had any more sessions I would have had more problems with my skin.  Or maybe more treatments will be have better results than mine. ........? 

Hoping to get to KY for the horse sales!

Sunshineinky

Cannoli if it gets to bad ask your RO for silvadene.  It's really helped me.  I am actually not wearing deo under that arm.  I do put cornstarch there though. My techs said that it would make it worse so I stopped early into treatment.  I think they have zapped all the stink out. lol.  That or I just can't smell myself under that arm!

Crazywabbit

funny how different the ROs are, mine said any type of deodorant is OK. I am just using Toms with no aluminum under that one and the regular stuff under the good one.  No increased reaction under the arm as far as I can tell.  Not red yet there. 

Sunshineinky

I was told I could use Toms too but only under my good arm.  It doesn't help much and I actually snuck one day and used my favorite ban deodorant under my good arm and Toms under the other arm. I'm defiant I guess 😁but I was not going to stink at a huge family function. 

Crazywabbit

if you're not getting radiation on the good side why the heck can't you use regular deodorant there.

Louanne

I had my first boost also yesterday. Today I feel like I ran into a truck. Had to miss my niece's birthday party. The tech warned me about this, didn't take it real seriously, (which I should have) because I have been feeling okay that last 5 weeks, just a little tired. Sent my husband out for some protein shakes. Hope it helps.