Winter rads 2014-2015

WndrWoman

ladyb1234. Sorry you finished with some painful areas but hope you will heal quickly as you enjoy each day going forward. It is easy to miss all the kind techs you saw so much of. I did.

CoyoteNV

windgirl and ladyb ~ That's great news.  It really makes for a good day.... Sorry to hear there are issues and parts that aren't quite repaired, but a bit of time should help in that. 

Our list is filling out with smiles. 

quiggy

CONGRATULATIONS windgirl, JeniferE, Sjacobs & ladyb1234!!!! (Sorry if I missed anyone)

Welcome to the finish line. Glad you're here.

I'm a week finished andmy burns are down to a saucer size (from dinner plate size), I'm starting to regain some energy and my blisters are shrinking!

So... Don't despair if you have skin or energy issues, it truly will get better!!!

I wish you all long and healthy lives. 😊

Nomatterwhat

Congrats to all the ladies who are finishing this week.  What a great feeling!!!!!

Mm68

I have not checked in for a few days, congrats to all that have finished. I am down to my last 4 boosts. My skin is red, but RO says it looks great-really-I don't think so. She did say it would now start to go away and I have noticed some peeling. I Have used cortisone when itching began & Aquaphor the whole or time.

windgirl

thanks ladies, hope you all finish with no issues and those who do resolve them quickly

JeniferE

Thank you, everyone! Keep at it, the time passes quickly. Best wishes for minimal side effects to you all..

Wino

kayfry...thanks for the question about bolus. They put a disco looking piece over my boob at the first part of zaps...I think this is a bolus??? I should ask. Today was #15 with 10 to go + 11 boosts. Skin very red. Using calendula cream. Not very itchy yet. We shall see.

Sjacobs146

A bolus can be many things, basically anything that is placed on the body to change the effect of the beam in some way. I had a bolus which was made of a small roll of bubble wrap. They placed it on the side of my Breast to adjust for a skin fold

kayfry

Interesting about the bolus! Now I'm curious to see if I'll get such a thing for my boosts, or if I'm to be bolus-free. 4 more regular, then 4 boosts starting Weds. of next week! Itchy, but no worse so far.

Congratulations to everyone who has finished! Can't wait to join you there.

CassieCat

Congrats windgirl and ladyb!!! Way to go!

Yesterday was another boost instead of a regular rad, and I do think the break has been helpful. My armpit isn't any worse and does feel a tiny bit better. 10 treatments left - 5 regular and 5 boosts.

zjrosenthal

Nice to see you gals,who are done or close to finishing. It gives us hope and encouragement. Thanks. Love, Jean

WndrWoman

CassieCat and kayfry. So glad to hear things are holding steady. Counting down is a good feeling.

scubawoman

Start boosts tomorrow, so approaching next Wednesday's finish line. Am a little itchy and a little red underarm, but so far so good. Congrats to those finishing this week, and next week I'll join you.

CassieCat

I had another boost today and will do a boost tomorrow. My tech said my underarm skin is on the verge of breaking down, so they're hoping that giving that area 6 days off will help it settle down some more before finishing the regular rads. I hope it works! I am grateful that they're considering it and trying to keep me out of pain as much as possible.

So I'm down to 5 regular rads and 4 boosts left - 9 more treatments days.

ladyb1234

Quiggy, Beachbum and all, did you feel the "virtual" high-five as I crossed the finish line. I felt like some of the long distance runners that fall out after crossing the line. LoL. I actually did a little happy-dance for the techs. I loved it that they were clapping as I entered and exited the treatment room and got a few hugs.

CassieCat, scubawoman and kayfry and others, glad that things are going steady and no major issues. I am with Quiggy at the finish line waiting for ya and routing you on.

As always thanks all for the exchanging of experience, support and most of all friendship on the boards.

Allmodestyisgone

Ladyb1234 - that is so nice that they clapped for you - coming and going!!! I think I would cry. I am close to finishing (2 boosts left) and a small (really small) part of me will miss my wonderful techs.

Sjacobs146

My RO warned me that I might feel blue once my treatment was complete. At the time I laughed, but I was a little emotional on the last day. I'm way too busy to dwell on it though, thank goodness.

SunnySydeUp

Congrats to all of you that have just finished or about to finish- there are so many of you this round!! When I started lurking on this thread, you were all just beginning your rads! And, I am already halfway done! So far, no major SE, just a lovely sunburn, some mild fatigue, and facial flushing every day after rads. Thank you for sharing your successes and your challenges and providing inspiration for all of us to tackle this beast!

SunnySydeUp

Congrats to all of you that have just finished or about to finish- there are so many of you this round!! When I started lurking on this thread, you were all just beginning your rads! And, I am already halfway done! So far, no major SE, just a lovely sunburn, some mild fatigue, and facial flushing every day after rads. Thank you for sharing your successes and your challenges and providing inspiration for all of us to tackle this beast!

kayfry

Quiggy, I'm so glad to know you're healing after a week, and getting your energy back. That's so reassuring to hear, as I come up on the final week or so.

kayfry

I don't think I'll feel sad when treatment ends, but it will feel weird. It's amazing how much a part of our lives this routine becomes, even though we never wanted to go there. I do wonder if the techs feel any of the same kind of attachment, even just a tiny bit. I don't think mine will; they are very lovely and kind and I like them, but I will be out of their lives in a month, and they will be out of mine. And yet, for now, I spend more time with them than anyone in my life except my husband and my dogs! I don't quite feel we've developed the "baking a cake" kind of relationship, but more than the "sending a card" kind. Something to figure out between now and the end of the month.

quiggy

ladyb1234, so cool!! High five to you and all my bc sisters!

This bc thing is a life consuming event that crashes into our lives like a wrecking ball and then, after turning our lives upside down and making us feel dependent on providers and routines... POOF!!! It's over. But then it isn't really because we all know we are not done.

So happy dances, high fives, big hugs and maybe a few tears.... You made it!!

quiggy

kayfry, It's true, you WILL get your life back.

I had my first MO follow up, things continue to improve.

I think it's ok to feel sad when RADs end. It takes 21 days to build a habit. You're coming to the time you need to kick the RAD habit!!

For me, it was a happy but uncertain moment. Another loss in this journey.

Brighter days await you!! 👏👏👏👏 🌞

mqt64

Congratulations lady b! I think I missed you last time. Cassiecat and Kayfry, hang in there! Seems you both are dealing with skin issues as best you can. They told me I might have worse problems in the two weeks after rads ended but it's not been bad. Now 2 weeks out I feel like I'm really done, or well done as the case may be. But, it is getting better every day.

For those of you with cording issues PT really does help. The massage makes a big difference. By the end of rads I was having pain all the way to my wrist. Just turning my arm certain ways hurt. 3 PT sessions with massage and stretching and it is practically gone! It's related to the lymphedema which I didn't even realize I had. Got my sleeves too. I just feel so much better that I want you all to feel better too! It was something I could actually do something about.

Have a great weekend everyone!

LARock

Tomorrow is my last tx. Coyote, I'm ready for my thumbs up!! Bags are packed and DH, DD and I are off to the airport right after work/school. Can't wait to see DS when we get there. So happy to be done

quiggy

Yahoo LARock!!!! Congratulations and welcome to the finish line!!!!!

Safe travels and I wish you a long and happy life.

WndrWoman

LAROCK. Can't believe you are done. Have a fantastic trip. Drink tons of water on the long flight.

First day of spring and it does feel like Winter Rads group is almost through this experience. All well cooked, mqt64! My thanks to all for sharing the full range of emotions, reactions and solutions.

It has been tremendously helpful. Go forward and enjoy life.

CoyoteNV

LARock ~ That's great news! Big Day! I'll get that smiley up first thing.  Have  wonderful trip.

Wow, we made it to Spring.  We are winding down our treatment schedules.  There are still a few of you getting zapped and we're here for you until the final zap.

I spoke with a long time friend yesterday. I just found out that she has a paddle in this canoe.  She begins radiation treatments next week. I suggested she tune into the Spring 2015 group for support. There's been nothing like the support we give each other. It is really a gift. Thank you all so very much.

 

kayfry

LARock, huge congratulations for finishing, and I hope you have a fabulous trip.

Quiggy, thanks for the words of encouragement, they are so appreciated.

So I just drove through snow, again, on the first day of spring to my treatment. It was not a bad drive, because the snow kept all the road crews away, so that was good. I finished 13 of 15 regular treatments today, and saw the RO afterward. She said my skin looks pretty good for this point in treatment, but I'm warned that skin SEs will probably get worse next week, and peak around the time of my last of 4 boosts, which is March 30, before beginning to heal. I really only have the scatterings of itchy bumps and a slight pinkness around nipple and underarm at this point. I also asked about fatigue, how long it typically takes to subside. RO said for most women it's much better, can even be totally resolved, in a month after finishing treatment, for others can take 3-4 months. That sounds like a long time to me to be fatigued, and I wondered of those who've finished what your experience has been, though I know some of you ladies have reported in on that already.

As for me, I guess I do feel generally a bit tired, but I've so far only had one day of really bad fatigue. Of course, fatigue is such a subjective thing, and I'm trying not to feel fatigued just because I'm told it's time to feel fatigued, you know? Still exercising, still riding my horse and walking my dogs, but I'm definitely not up to full strength and energy level, and don't know how I'll be the next week or several. Nurse and RO both counsel to "take care of myself," to rest when I need to rest. This is why I'm not committing to a road trip to Brooklyn, NY to attend our grandson's 4th birthday party a week from Sunday, just one day before my last boost, because I don't know how I'll feel then. It would be 7-8 hours in the car, round-trip, plus however long we spend with family there. Could not stay over because of my last treatment first thing the next morning. We're expecting our daughter, grandson & SIL a week later to visit here for 2-3 days, and in the meantime we can always Skype. But of course I feel guilty for staying home. Impossible to do everything while also taking care of oneself during rads. And LARock is flying to Europe, so maybe I'm being over-cautious!

Well, I'm looking forward to the weekend break before heading into my last full week of tx. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.