Summer Rads 2014

princessrn

hello all... I start rads Wednesday. I see some of my chemo friends here too. tang, J Bok!!

3rdtimenow

Hi,  Stephanie, I am 10 treatments in, I know what you mean, no matter how much friends or family try to help they just can't get it unless they have been in our shoes. I have a great support system, but they all think that, because I have come through it all fine before, that I will just sail through this again, but I am having a much more difficult time emotionally. Hang around here, these ladies are great and we have all been there done that. Another Stephanie

count_it_all_joy

Deblc - hey there.    Sorry you had to be told today that you are not done after all.  I know how we ALL count down the days!!  Congrats on being so, so close to being done!  My skin started improving during the boost days, and only got better in the days after I finished.  I don't know how rare that is, but it's what my techs and RO predicted after looking at my skin on the last day, and they were right.  I do hope it's the same for you.  

I've wondered if we should start a new thread as people move into the next phase… how many of us are doing hormone therapy now?   Regardless, it does feel like we are beginning the long term adjustment time.  Time to trade tips on getting fit again, and the stupid things people say to try to be encouraging , and mood swings, and hopes and fears…  

Best wishes to those of you starting tomorrow.  I hope it is calm and easy for you, and that you all have understanding techs who know how to make you comfortable. 

3rdtimenow

To all of  you ladies, who start today, best of luck hope it goes quickly and smoothly. For those of us 2 weeks in, we are 1/3 done, yay and for those of you who are done, thanks for the support and encouragement. Stephanie

Sunshineinky

I'm all for a new thread even though I'll probably continue to post here until we get everyone in our group through. 

After all we are all 2014 survivors! I count my surviving from the day I woke up from them removing that tiny beast from me! 

DeeC

I survive one thing at a time.  I survived the diagnosis.  I survived the surgery.  I survived the Taxol.  I will survive the radiation. I will survive the 9 months of Herceptin. I will survive.

Dee

3rdtimenow

Dee, great attitude, we will survive.

lyzzysmom

I will survive this beastie as long as I survive my job long enough for the insurance to pay for the radiation LOL. 

20 done, 13 to go including boosts. The nurse gave me a thicker cream today as she thought my nipple was looking a bit red but its still doing OK. and only 8 more whole breast.

I had a meltdown this morning. I was up checking the computer until after 10 last night due to a few work problems, it was my day off too. Then some person rejected the form I had done that my boss had approved before he went on vacation for work that I HAVE to do Saturday. I told a colleague that I couldn't take any more so he updated the form, resubmitted it, and found another manager as my boss is out, so much stupid paperwork. I said I was taking the rest of the day off so I can rest up and then enjoy a concert tonight that I have been looking forward to for months!

rettemich

Congrats to all that have completed that I have not addressed. 

Rads are scary. It can be very overwhelming at first. And the complete feeling of no control.

For those just starting, one day at a time. It does go by faster than you think, especially once you get into the routine. And yes, if possible take someone with you epically when you first start.
They can't stay during treatment but knowing they are out there for you
does help.

I did the count down on my schedule too. LOL

Izzy, I have heard of that supplement but never tried it. 

Sorry I forgot who asked about the studies for the Black Cohosh, My IO didn't give me any studies, he studied under Dr. Weil at U of A. The information has links to some of the studies his information is based on. My IO is first and foremost a MO he then studied under Dr. Weil for Integrative Medicine. Just like anything else it may or may not work for any particular person.

Dr. Weil Black Cohosh

ohiofan

Coastal,   Love the cartoon!!!

Hoping everyone is doing fine today!

Rosiesride

Well, I started back to treatment today...14/25 whole breast down...then probably 5 boosts...

Sunshineinky...as you know I also burned really fast...after 13 th rad...I am one of the few who have the gene that causes this reaction...today's RO said it was 2x at what it should be...maybe you also had that gene sunshine...for the newbies THAT IS NOT THE NORM!!  

Funny story...when the physicist asked if it was ok if he took pictures ( last week with 3 others hovering). I said "Sure, just don't put them on Facebook"! ...I think he thought I was serious...lol...just glad to get things going again so I can be finished!!  Rosie

Rosiesride

count it all...I am all for a new thread as we finish up...I know there are tamoxifen boards and exercise etc, but since we are pretty much on the same schedule with chemo, for some, rads and drugs, it would be nice to have a board for moving on after treatment...so if ANY questions arise for us we can post them on the board.

Yay for awesome techs who really care about our comfort!  I brought mine a HAPPY WEDNESDAY snack bin with cracker packs, oatmeal bars and cookie packs a couple of weeks ago...I will refill it this week...they loved it!  Rosie

Crazywabbit

Rosie, I called it Sweet Friday. A few Fridays I brought in Godiva chocolate bars for the techs. 

I hope your skin holds up through the rest of radiation.  

Rosiesride

thanks Barbara...I hope it holds up too!  

Amelia123

Hello to all the ladies starting this week.  It's my 3rd week, and so far so good.  Rads have been easier than chemo, and I hope it continues this way.  I think a big part of it is the techs are all sooo nice, as is the RO, and overall the experience has been pleasant.  Really liking that there is parking right in front of the office.  No hospital parking deck to deal with.

Dee - great attitude! We can do this!

Dfroberts - this is the first I've heard of anyone laying on their stomach for rads.  Did they explain why you have to do that?

Crazywabbit - I'm going to steal your idea of Godiva bars!

Deblc

count_it_all Glad to hear you didn't have any problems once finished. My thought with starting a new radiation recovery thread was to see if there were any effects after rads were finished, as my RO says that this can happen (hopefully not, as I thought I got off pretty easy!) . Or if no new thread is started, hope everyone who finishes will continue to post on this thread to say how they're doing.

Macintx

Amelia123, it is very common to have to lie on your stomach for rads.  It just has to do with your individual anatomy and where your tumor area was.  I have met 4 other women so far at rads in the waiting room (the machine was down, so there was overlap of patients waiting) and only 1 was face up.  I and the other 3 are all face down.  

Sunshineinky

This is a little off topic but I needed to tell someone! 

I got a job offer! I'm so excited to be rejoining the workforce after being retired for only 9 months! I needed this to return to a sense of normalcy! 

Crazywabbit

Sunshineink.  Big congratulations on the job. Your too young to retire and get bored. 

Deblc

Congrats Sunshine !!

jbokland

Yesterday my wife went with me for rads.  She came in and out if the room with the team for the adjustments, Video taped some of it and sat at the control panel and they spent a lot of time explaining everything.  How great was that? We all had fun with it. 

I did notice the muscles in my treated arm are getting tight again.  RO said very important to stretch and excercise!

dfroberts

First rad yesterday - pretty harmless and uneventful, which I guess is good!  Glad to have one in the books and be that much closer to being done!!!

victorialee

I also had my first rads yesterday. My appt. was at 2 PM and they took me back at 3 as they were running behind. Everyone was nice and it was very quick. Then I had to meet with the nurse and then the RO. which dragged things out further but I got some of my fears and questions relieved and answered. I'll meet once a week with the RO and nurse on Monday's. So all in all it was fine....until last night when I realized I had to go back again tomorrow and the next day and the the next. LOL I'm sure once I get in the grove it will all just fly by.

 

Brwneyedgirl

Today is boost #1 of 4.  Glad to have the treatment off my armpit and nipple.  The RO said the skin was holding up well.  Hopefully it stays that way. 

Sunshineink - congrats on the job offer

Hope everyone has a good day.

3rdtimenow

Congrats Sunshineink. DDgm glad things are holding up well so far, Dfroberts and Victoria lee, it goes faster once you get started. #12 for me today, so far so good. Jbok, good that they let you bring someone with you. Have a great day ladies.

Louanne

Congrats Sunshine! Is it full time? 

Amelia123

I must say I'm getting a bit tired of these films that need to be taken every week. They say it's like a picture to make sure the rads go where they are supposed to, but I've had them twice this week now.  And the RO just called to say I need to do another sim tomorrow after my regular treatment.  Apparently it's normal, and it's because you tend to relax more after a few treatments so the positioning changes.  But still.  That will be the 3rd out of the ordinary thing this week.  

I really don't mind the regular 10 minute appointments but this is getting on my nerves.  Does this mean those tattoos I got are worthless now, since they need new references?  Ugh.

Thanks for letting me rant!!

jhodro

Congrats Sunshineink!! Hope you love it!!

I am celebrating the end of chemo (yesterday was my final taxol, on to Herceptin for a year).

I have my sim on 7/30 and then will find out my scheduling for 6.5 weeks of rads.

Looking forward to getting started, but nervous about yet another treatment.

Best of luck everyone!!

Sunshineinky

Thanks everyone! Louanne It's two days a week so I'm good with that! I'm so excited about just being around people lol.  I live on a farm in a rural area and even my closest neighbors aren't close! 

Amelia it is normal and I had pictures sometimes 2xs weekly however they never added more tan just a couple of mintues. When I went to my boost they were every day.  

Jhondro congrats and I do hope you're doing something fun in between the two!! 

ktfelder

Congrats Sunshine! I'm really happy for you! 

While my skin reactions were minor, I am so, so tired. I somehow thought that once I was finished I would be able to work full days every day, which has not happened. By this time of day (2pm), I am exhausted. Monday I stayed all day and was so tired on Tuesday I couldn't go into work. Anyone able to give me an idea when I will start feeling normal?