Fall Rads 2014

OneLump

I wish I had another facility I could request.  I'm in the same boat as you HomeMom minus the toll charges.  Hope you get a closer place to go.

OneLump

HindsFeet:  (((hugs)))

MommyQ

Hindsfeet: Good luck starting rads Wednesday. You mentioned no Vitamin E, D, or antioxidants. Did the RO say why? And does that apply only to what we injest or does it also apply to what we apply topically?

Hi Lilyrose from April Chemo! I think after chemo, rads should be fairly "easy," based on what others have posted in the Summer Rads board. Let's hope so!

Puffin2014: I think the "standard" wait time is 2-4 weeks between chemo and rads. My RO wanted to wait 3 weeks between final chemo and the simulation, so I'll probably be closer to 4 weeks between chemo and actual start of rads.

Good luck to everyone starting rads and have a good evening!

HomeMom

What is the simulation about?

MommyQ

HomeMom: The simulation is the first step for rads, where they take a CT scan to figure out where they will need to radiate. They will lay out wires to map out the radiation zone. No actual radiation treatment takes place during the simulation appointment.

MomMom

At yesterday's rad appointment, I discovered some red dots mostly in the middle of my chest.  They weren't there after a shower several hours before.  It's from the rads, but I had done a strenuous workout on the treadmill that morning and sweated profusely.  Since I was at home, did not have a bra on but wore a nylon fabric shirt.  RO said only cotton next to my chest.  I've only been able to find cotton bras which are sports bras that you have to pull on over your head - no front or back closure.  Also, they rise high under the arm which could cause a problem later.  These were cheap ones from Walmart.  Has anyone been able to find ideally a cotton bra with front closure??  If so, where?  Thanks!

Puffin2014

Here's the online store for our local mastectomy store that has cotton bras for radiation:

www.healthcareaccessories.com/index.htm
select Patient Apparel, then Recovery Apparel for cotton front closure bras

Cceandme

Curious about the markers. I have heard some say they got permanent ones and others say just temporary. You would think they would do some kind of henna tattoo marker that would fade after treatment.

lilyrose53

Cceandme,

I hear ya on the tattoo thing.  I don't understand why they can't use a permanent marker that would eventually fade away.  Henna sounds like another good idea!

ncollett

I agree with you all on the tatoo thing who wants a permanent reminder right

MommyQ

MomMom: I did a quick Google search and found that front close cotton bras are pretty rare! I did find a couple:

Walmart (online and in stores-check online for store availability), $8, Sports Bra: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fruit-of-the-Loom-Comfor...

OneHanesPlace, $22, Leisure Bra: http://www.onehanesplace.com/outlet/bras/bra-feat...

You'd think there'd be more options considering how many women get breast cancer!

MommyQ

Regarding tattoos vs. markers, it might be worth asking your RO if he/she could use markers instead of a tattoo. My RO said that most women don't want a permanent reminder after rads (like ncollett said!) so he uses a marker instead of a tattoo. He said the markers work well. I just have to be careful to wash carefully in that area so I don't wash the marker off. At treatment each day, they touch up the markers to keep them fresh and visible.

MomMom

MommyQ - thank you for the links!

The permanent markers don't bother me that much as I don't think they can be seen in most clothing.  When I first found out I'd have tattoos in February, I told my kids I bet they never thought their mom would get boob tats:-).   Somewhere back on another thread I recall someone posting that some ROs like the permanent ones as they do not like to radiate in the same spot down the road, but that doesn't make sense to me.  If you need it later, you need it wherever - or so it seems to me.

I had #10 of 34 rads today.  I'm still exercising strenuously every morning but am a little more tired during the day (already).  I went to the acupuncturist once a week during Taxol and did some research that shows it also helps with fatigue during rads (one was an NIH study).  So I'll do that too.  Anyone else try or consider acupuncture with rads?  Does the fatigue get worse or stay about the same?  These are two questions I just posted on the Summer 2014 rads thread.

 

 

ncollett

I just found out today that my re-excision will be Sept 10 and then Radiation 4-6 weeks after that as long as they have clear margins. I see my MO finally next Wed. Prob going to start Tamoxifen soon. Getting nervous about the things to come but I know that I will get through this. 

tucker3

Hi Everyone! This is my first post. Glad to be able to join in as I too will start rads this fall. I have one more Taxol to go next week...yea! I met with the RO last week and he said there will be 16 treatments and there would be about a 4 week break before the radiation begins. I have learned a lot from reading the American posts...any other Canadians lurking about??

Jaimieh

so I went today for simulation and I will be starting rads on Sept 8 (dry run) and Sept 9 for the real deal. I was supposed to get tattoos but talked my way out of them.  I just said that I have enough reminders of breast cancer that I didn't want another one. So I will be living with stickers for the next month and a half. I think I can handle the stickers. . 

cmp106

Puffin- My MO waits 3-4 weeks from last chemo to start of Rads. I'll be right at 3 weeks. 

Jenwith4kids- I was the appointment right after you for simulation so, yes, we crossed paths...literally. How did you get your times/schedule already for the sessions? Since its a further commute for me (I'm in Short Hills) I requested the 10am-12pm timeframe and I'm hoping its closer to 10, than 12. I just didn't want to fight rush hour traffic everyday. The scheduler told me I wont get my schedule for next week (my first week of Rads) until after my set-up appointment on Monday (8/25), then for the following weeks, I was told I would get my schedule for the week the Friday before. It's been so hard to plan anything since I have no clue what time I will need to be there. If I do get the 10-12 timeframe, you'll be long gone by the time I get there. Good luck!!

ncollett

Is there anything I should do to prepare for rad therapy  now so that maybe the SE wont be so bad while I am waiting for next surgery and healing until I can start Rad

mortmain

Hello, all:

Had my CT/Sim 8/14 and today, 8/21, had my second Rad treatment, 31 to go. So far, so good. 

Despite being pretty well prepped for what to expect, I am surprised to find I have enough anxiety to disturb my sleep and to make it difficult to relax my muscles, critical for the treatment. I must be suppressing worry, because at work and with others, I don't communicate this.

Any suggestions for how to relax?

mortmain

Re: cotton front-close bras. Mommyq, I wasn't told I had to have cotton, I was just told to stay away from underwire. Those are hard enough to find! I'm thinking about going from 34 to 36 to avoid binding. I will check your links. Cotton sounds like a good idea.

Amy

MomMom

The right kind of a cotton bra was/is hard for me to find. I took a tip from someone who finished recently and am putting cut up squares of a soft cotton white tee shirt from my husband inside my comfy non underwire bra. 

Anyone e experiencing fatigue yet?

cmp106

I start Rads next week and I'm still extremely fatigued from chemo, which ended 2 weeks ago. Not looking forward to any added fatigue from Rads! 

HomeMom

My MO told me today that most people who experience fatigue from Rads did not go through Chemo. She said Rads are a breeze after what we have been through. 

oddducklady

Hello to all of you-I will be following along with you. Hope you don't mind a spouse joining in. My husband will finish weekly Abraxane Sept 1 and radiation should start before the end of September. He is not much of a computer person but I have learned a lot here. I am sure when we meet with the RO we will get lots of info and recommendations but I will be interested in what other places recommend and what all of you say is really working in terms of lotions, soaps, creams, etc. I guess I don't have to worry about bras. Didn't even think about possibly needing all cotton shirts. Good grief do they even make all cotton shirts other then white t shirts? Better start looking at labels. Chemo has been a very rough ride with lots of complications. I sure hope radiation is better. Good luck to all of you.

charusa

Hi everyone!!! I am in the summer rads group but I won't be done until mid September I thought I would check in here also. Welcome to everyone that are new to the groups!!! I got the tattoos and they didn't hurt at all and I can not really even see them. They are so tiny. I also have a sticker on my breasts with a big green X on it that I am suppose to be careful bathing with. Not sure why I have both. I just finished #10 today and nothing too much to complain about...a little pink, breast and nipple a bit tender, and just slightly fatigued but a quick nap and feel better. I decided just to forget the bra all together and wear a cotton camisole or a man's undershirt under my shirt unless I am going out out...then I will put on a bra. As soon as I get home I put on the lotion they gave me and then again before bed. I am also trying to drink a lot of water to help keep skin hydrated. I was told no antioxidants as far as supplements but I can eat them...something to do with building up cells in the body and cancer is a cell we don't want to build up. I have always found it very helpful throughout this journey to look back on the previous groups forums and ask questions there. Everyone throughout this whole process has been very helpful. As far as what to expect....everyone is different, everyone's skin is different...but in general terms everything about rads is happening about the same time to everyone just different levels of severity.I have seen pictures of 2 sisters that their skin turned black and 1 actually the skin opened up...I don't know how they continued but they got through it and others just complained of a little redness. So come join us in the summer group if you all have any questions!!!

Char

Missyjean

Hi ladies. I just started rads this week. Was supposed to start at the end of July but on the last day of chemo, the NP punctured my expander while doing a fill:(. I had my CT sim the day after chemo but when we went to do the dry run three weeks later the expander had shrunk too much so we had to start over.  Anyway, had my dry run on Tuesday and started treatments Wednesday. I am doing 25 so will be done September 24th.  Charusa- I too have both the tattoos and the stickers. At least the tattoos are tiny.  Best of luck to everyone, hopefully we will all breeze through!

jhodro

Hi all! I recognize many from the chemo threads. I was hanging out on the summer rads, but many are finishing up. I'm on 4 of 33. I have been searching for a non-underwire that is comfortable for months, nothing yet. I'm going with the cotton t-shirt cut up between me and my uncomfy bra. I am a DD on the left and a C+ on the right since surgery, so it's made the right bra next to impossible to find. I can't really go free, although when I'm home I do use a cotton cami and then I use the cut-up t-shirt under my arm where that seam is. I do feel like my scars and my nipple are extremely sensitive already (for example, accidentally brushed the towel against those areas and it's not pleasant) although my skin doesn't look any different. I started on Tues last week (8/19) but the machine broke down Friday, so I picked up number four this morning.

Thanks for the hydration advice, I almost forgot about that, and have been very bad about drinking water since I recovered from the worst of the chemo.

I hope we all get through this as quickly and painlessly as possible!!

Jenwith4kids

home mom,  i hope you are right!

Cmp, the nurse who drew my blood looked in the system for me...she showed me at least three weeks worth of appointments....  

lilyrose53

Hi all!

Saw my RO this morning, had a good talk with him.  He is pretty set on tattoos.  So he showed me where they would be and showed me the size.  He has one on his hand to show to patients.    It's really tiny!  He said I should only need three.  I will go back in three weeks to get set up, then start rads the following week.  He will also be giving me lotions to use on my skin.  I asked about antioxidants...he said not to take them during rads.  But I can start taking them once I finish.  All in all, I felt pretty good about my appointment.  Just need to get through my last Taxol this week.

Wishing you all a great week,  lilyrose

SailingWind

Started rads Aug. 1st but had to stop after 7th day. Had infection in the cavity of lumpectomy. Not unusual they said . Starting third week on antibodies. They want to make sure I'm all better before starting rads again. My three tats are so small I couldn't find them.! So I will be really in the fall rads group. They are saving my 9:00am time slot for me. BS and RO keep in touch about me. My BC drains the fluid every 3 to 5 day to help the healing process. Seeing both Docs. Often . Being well cared for.

,Nice to see you here too Puffin