Fall Rads 2014

writinghelps

I had my sim today. It was a breeze compared to the MRI-guided biopsy i had last March and of course better than the chemo experience. It was actually a nice time to just rest.

I am a bit worried about how bad my skin will get. The tape they put on my skin today for the simulation made me red.

I asked the RO if he would do a blood draw and check my counts because my muscle fatigue (from chemo) has gotten worse this past week. I can't believe how sore they are. It's like the soreness after an intense workout or hike. And the only thing i've done is get out of the bed in the morning! Anyway, he gave me a lab order, i had it done and my counts look ok. So I guess it's just from the chemo. Wow. Insane Evil Poison.

PontiacPeggy

Good evening, Ladies!  I didn't know until today that I would actually be starting my rads Sept 2nd.  Got my oncotype back - 13.  I've had the mold made and got my tattoos.  Mine were done barely above my rib cage, one on each side of my body and one right in the middle.  Not apt to show.  No hurt to them and I'd rather have the tattoos than worry about washing off the marks.  I thought they'd be around my breast.

I go Friday for the x-rays for setting up.  DH gets to come along since he has Parkinson's and I can't leave him alone (and no one else to care for him ).  

I was doing great until today when I was helping DH get off the toilet and I pulled something.  Felt not so good.  My nipple is extremely sensitive.  

Not sure what I'll do for a bra.  I'm retired so don't often HAVE to wear one.  Some place I read that wearing a t-shirt under your bra is helpful and gives you the cotton you want.  

I've been lurking at the Summer rads group and have been active in the Lumpy forum.  Figure this is a good place to be now.

Very glad I don't have to have chemo.

Bow1965

Finished chemo today and have a consult with my radiation oncologist next Tuesday. Assuming I will start some time in September.

MomMom, I hope they get me going quickly like you - ready to be done! Taxol is not too bad as far as SEs for me (unlike Neulasta, which has been horrid) so I am hoping it's a sign I can keep moving. We'll see.

jhodro

Hey Pontiac! I'm from metro detroit too. where do you go for treatment? Good luck with your set-up Friday. I just finished 5 of 33.

Bow1965: They advised me to wait 4 weeks between chemo and rads. I'm glad I did because I felt much better by the 4th week. Good luck!!

I heard advice on the summer rads board to cut up a t-shirt and use that between my bra and my skin, so I've been doing that the last few days. It definitely is softer than the bras I have (or should I call them vests??).

PontiacPeggy

Johodro, I'm doing everything at the St Joseph Hospital, Pontiac.  Surgery was at the Gustafson Center (and what a caring experience that was).  For the rads, I'm at 21st Century Oncology.  All located on St Joe's campus.  Nothing actually IN the hospital.  Where have you gone for treatment?

I also am scheduled for 33 rads. I'll be 2 weeks behind you.  Nice to meet someone from around me! 

MomMom

Bow,  Good luck in starting early.  If you did relatively well on Taxol, you may start at 2 weeks too.  Cannot wait to be done with treatment and on to living my life more normally!  However, I am grateful for the treatment - all of it.  

I also took the hint of cut up squares of one of husband's soft white tee shirts. I'm small, and maybe that helps, but easy to line the affected breast inside my comfy regular bra. It's hard to find an all cotton bra that's not a sports bra. I only wear those when I go to the gym. 

I'm continuing weekly acupuncture to prevent fatigue. I went weekly on Taxol to lessen the chance of neuropathy. Don't know if it was the icing and/or acupuncture but I'm almost 5 weeks PFC and no signs of it.  I'm so grateful for that!

I have #15 of 34 rads today. So far not that bad. Calendula cream day and ointment at night. Cornstarch dabbed with a cotton ball works great to keep slight itching at bay.

Good luck to all just starting.

OneLump

Well, the tattoos are on (I have three permanent reminders now) and the dry run done.  Today is the real deal.  Wishing all of you on this journey determination and encouragement.  I was never told to get any type of different bra, but I was figuring that underwire wouldn't be the greatest thing.  I was never told not to take any of my supplements (CLA, fish oil, cinnamon).  Are any of these supplements on the "do not take" list?

PontiacPeggy

OneLump, interesting that you started your AI BEFORE radiation.  My MO apparently won't start me until after my rads. However, I see him Tuesday after my first rad treatment so that could change.  Good luck today!

OneLump

Thanks PontiacPeggy.  I have it so much easier thus far than so many.  I'm trying to stay optimistic.

PontiacPeggy

OneLump, I know what you mean.  I'm rather excited to start my rads because that will mean another step in getting rid of the BC!  

MomMom

Onelump,  Most ROs say no antioxidants while on rads as they interfere with effectiveness of rads and a big No to underwire bras.

HomeMom

I haven't worn and underwire bra since my first surgery and I plan on being a little smaller after recon, so meh on the no underwire

PontiacPeggy

MomMom and HomeMom, I generally don't wear underwire bras to begin with.  I'm small (A) so lord knows I don't want a reduction!  I haven't tried an underwire since my Lx and not too keen yet on trying either

jhodro

Pontiac: I'm going to Troy Beaumont for everything. It's about 15 minutes from where I live, so not too bad. 

I'm still fighting the no underwire thing - I'm a DD and C+ and they've told me not to wear them, but so far the ones I have are far more comfortable than any of the ones I have purchased with no underwire. When they are underwire free, they are like vests that just smush you down and together. It makes me look like I have a ton of cleavage all the time which the underwires don't do that. I think we should still have decent supportive options that don't look like a vest from the 50's. I also haven't found a sports bra that I can get on (hooks in the back) and is supportive enough for running/intense exercise (I haven't started that yet, but plan to soon). I am also planning a reduction on the left in a year or so once all this is over. The symmetry will help me find more bra options, I think, too.

Onelump: I got 5 tattoos, only one on the breast bone, two on each side. I'm thinking I'll have that one in the front blasted off next year sometime, but the ones on the sides, I'd never see and they are super tiny.

Hope you all have a great Tuesday. I'm off to school open house for my youngest (3rd grade). They will all be back in school next week. Yay!

PontiacPeggy

Jhodro, we ARE close to each other!  I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you to find the type of bras needed.  I take it Genie bras don't have enough support for you.  Of course, they aren't cotton either.  I'm not a runner so sports bras are not part of my life.  I'm sure that your reduction surgery will help out.  

You got a lot of tattoos!  Even if I were to wear a bikini, my 3 tats would only look like blemishes, not tattoos.  Since they are below my bra strap line they aren't likely to show anyway (one in the center and one on each side (really the side!).    I can't see any reason to bother to remove them.  Neither could DH.

Glad your kiddies will be back in school.

Have a good evening!

charusa

My doc recommends getting spandex camisoles. He wants the effected breast to have support upwards especially when swelling starts. The nurse explained it is to keep the area free of moisture underneath the breast. I had just gone out and got 2 cotton with some spandex last weekend but he said it wasn't going to be enough support. Just had #13 today and I have some redness all over and my nipple is tender. I have been using the cream they gave me 2x's a day and now the nurse recommends using 100% aloe 1x and the cream1x. I got a three day break this coming week with labor day weekend so maybe that works out being a good thing at the half way mark!!!

PontiacPeggy

CharUSA, couldn't you wear a t-shirt under your spandex cami?  That would get you cotton and support, I think.  Hope the 3 day weekend helps you.  BTW, my nipple is very sensitive.  My BS says it will be for several months.

I'll let you know what my RO and staff say next week after I start my rads.

HomeMom

Well, one good thing I suppose about a mastectomy, there is no sore nipple

PontiacPeggy

HomeMom, this is true!

ncollett

I had my first meeting with my MO today, I love love love him! NO CHEMO for this girl! Even though I was 18 on my onco score and he said it was intermediate that it was still considered low and they dont give chemo unless you are 25 or higher.  He also made an appointment for me to have my RO consult which will be Sept 3 and gave me my script for Tamoxifen which he told me not to start until after rads. Re-excision is Sept 10 then as long as margins are clear I will start rads 4-6 weeks.  

PontiacPeggy

Nancy, that is FANTASTIC news!  Feel like you can breathe a bit better?  Now get through that re-excision and on to the rads!!!

ncollett

Peggy I do! My MO really explained things and was so reassuring and he even told me that I have the best BS in IN so I am in good hands. I just want to get this ball rolling and get rid of this damn cancer as I am sure we all do.

PontiacPeggy

Nancy, has your MO started you on Tamoxifen already?  Mine won't start me on my AI until after rads.  Just wondering. And nice to know you have THE BEST BS in IN!!

ncollett

He just gave me the script and told me not to start until after Im done with rads

PontiacPeggy

That makes more sense, Nancy.

Workingmom42

Started my rads today, pretty uneventful; we have a great cancer center in Anchorage and it is within minutes from my work.  I do have some cording, which is still quite painful; but oddly enough the opposite arm and hand were falling asleep while holding the handles during the treatment.  My treatments are at 2:00 daily and 2 days a week of PT for my cording, but they say it will also help with the fatigue.

SailingWind - My tattoos are extremely small also, I had trouble seeing them as well.  The techs doing my treatment today jokingly said that the tech who gave me my tattoos was very generous by making them so small, they were having a hard time seeing them too.

So far, so good...  Only noticeable change I had was that my skin was radiating like I'd been in the sun too long.

PontiacPeggy

WorkingMom42, Glad your first rads went so uneventfully.  Know the PT will do wonders for your cording.  

I'm surprised you have a reaction to the rads already.  I'd have thought it would take longer.  

Workingmom42

PontiacPeggy, I thought that was weird too, all of the other posts I have read suggested no SE for a few weeks...  Of course anything odd or strange and I am going to experience it

PontiacPeggy

Ah, WorkingMom42, you're one of THOSE people, are you?  Well, looks like you did collect the odd experience today!

OneLump

I hear you Peggy.  It went pretty good, but I have been getting little zinger pains that come and go.  Probably related to nerves  healing and not the radiation, but they are still annoying.  They will hurt like the dickens for a couple of seconds and then continue to mildly throb for a few minutes.  Manageable, but annoying.  Hope your rads go well.