Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

cbooklvr

Linda, congratulations on finishing!

I start my first rads treatment tomorrow. Still have neuropathy and chemopause issues, so I hope I don't have too bad a time with radiation. Unfortunately, my bra suddenly started rubbing in my rib area last week. So it is sore on my rads side already.

In better news my hair, eyelashes are growing back finally, yay! Trying to focus on the positive.

Cherice

cbooklvr

Florida2015, my start date was delayed because I had a week of out of town training. Hopefully 1 day will not be a big issue. In general, my doc does not want any missing days.

Cherice

MombieZombie

Hi ladies! Checking in. I think I see some new gals--Welcome to you.

booklady--congrats on finishing--Yay!

Finished rads 10 days ago. I was having so much trouble healing in my boost area that i decided to try not putting anything on my skin anymore. All of my broken, messed up areas are healing super fast now. I think I was allergic to the Silvadene and the Aquaphor. I was only using my homemade stuff on unbroken, dry skin. Anyway, my energy and healing are picking up fast now.

Florida--I think you can miss a day, but I've only seen them do that for people that are having too much skin damage. But it seems like they could let you miss a day. Maybe not when it's time for boost sessions though? Also, mentioning again that there is invisible ink they can use for the tattoos if you are worried about it showing.

zjrosenthal

Florida, ask the tecks about skipping a day. If ir is a holiday like Christmas, my rads center is closed and they just add a day at the end. Love, Jean

farmdau56

Cherice--good luck tomorrow! So far (after 4 treatments) everything has gone smoothly for me and the cornstarch is working fine. All the techs/nurses are very nice and helpful.

Florida--I asked what would happen if I had to miss a day and was told not to worry--they just add missed days on at the end.

For those of you who have finished or are further along--how is the fatigue? When/how does it hit?

My hair is growing back too--mostly grey!! (I have colored it for years). Will be wearing the wig a while longer...

Congrats to those who have finished and best thoughts to everyone else--may you have a good week. Hester

CassieCat

I'm 11 days out now and feeling better and better each day. I started a couch to 5k program last Monday. I feel like I'm finally really and truly starting to heal. I got through 6 rounds of chemo, and then I got through the MX. Now I'm through rads and moving forward without any other brutal assaults. It feels good. Hoping that Tamoxifen and Herceptin continue to be very tolerable.

MombieZombie

Hester--I was nine kinds of tired my 6th week and for about five days after that. The five days after, I literally couldn't stop sleeping. I will add that my boost area had become a real mess and I was in a lot of pain so I was also taking Vicodin for a few of the days, once at 1pm and once at bedtime. I'm sure that made me more sleepy. If I had allowed it, I could have slept non-stop for all of those days. Moving around helped though, so I didn't just give in completely. After those five days, I have been up in the morning, put in a full day of housework, exercise, Spring Break vacationing and then just needed to crash at night. I'm normally a full blown insomniac, so the fact that I'm sleeping all night every night tells me I'm still fighting of rads effects. During those five days I felt worried, wondering if this would be the new norm for a while. Now things don't seem too bad.

Evilmidget

Tomorrow is my last day of radiation! I have had 35 treatments (my 36th and final is tomorrow) and the last 8 were boosts. As I mentioned waaaayyy earlier, I had a mastectomy on my left side without reconstruction and had extensive DCIS on my chest wall and my margins weren't clear, hence the rads. I was supine for all my rads and had to use the breath-holding technique for all except the boosts. My skin became very red and raw, particularly under my arm, partially because I continued my workouts (I think), but the Silver Sulphadiazanine (sp?) helped a lot. As soon as the boosts began the other portions of my radiation burns started healing, and my incision looks and feels great.

End result? The 3rd - 6th weeks were the most painful, once that started healing I was fine. I've been unbelievably tired and sleep about 11 hours at night. I do all my workouts in the morning which is when I have the most energy. The whole thing went pretty fast and my RO and the rad techs are the best!!!! I'm taking them a Thank you card and a box of candy tomorrow because they made the sessions almost fun. Great senses of humor. I loved my radiation buddies that I hung out with while waiting for treatment too.

All in all, it has gone much better than I anticipated. Good luck ladies!

35 down and one to go!!!!

florida2015

thanks Cherice. Guess I will find out tomorrow.

MombieZombie

Evilmidget--Yay for the last day!!

My RO explained why my boosts were so different, but your description of your boosts, Evilmidet, reminds me that I still haven't met a single person that had boosts like mine. I had two angles with a different kind of ray used and I still had to hold my breath. Doesn't really matter. I'm done. Hallilujah! Just curious.

Cassie--sounds like you are doing good. Do you experience a lot of SEs with the herceptin? My latest infusion was during my last week of rads and my SEs were a lot worse. I'm hoping it was because the rads were already taxing me and that my next one will be easier.

Aeon

Thanks for the responses!

I start Tuesday. 20 sessions, which I think includes a 5 day boost at the end. Hmm..unless she meant 20 + 5. I'll ask when I see her...that would be a nasty surprise, thinking I'm done and then not.

They put a bunch (7 I think?) of Sharpie X's and stickers on my back, side, and one on the breast, during the sim last week. They itch a little sometimes, and I have to stop myself from scratching at it. They told me they only do tats if the patient wants them, and the stickers should be fine because they take lots of pics and can reposition them if necessary.

I'm nervous but also glad to be getting on with this. So much waiting in this whole process!

Congrats and good luck to those finishing up! And thanks for all the notes...it really helps to see what various people go through to set the range of expectations!

cbooklvr

Hester, thanks for the information. I start my cornstarch regime tomorrow. Still wondering how I will put it on at work. Fun times.

CurlyG23

Hi Ladies, I'm new to this thread...& glad to see the topic! I have finished two weeks out of six of Rads (or 10 out of 29). I use calendula three times a day & Aquafor at night. I stopped the underwire bra just before beginning rads & use the genie bra (real comfy/stretchy sports style bra from walmart/infomercials). No symptoms yet...but surprisingly I sailed through five months of AC/T chemo. The rad Dr is helpful, but I am just not sure what exactly will occur in terms of SE's for me....(she said I'll be blistering/sore on my radiated left side?) I guess I worry most about fatigue at some point. I'm a kindergarten teacher just returning to work a few weeks ago. Luckily I have a partner teacher to help when I eventually feel tired. The kids make me happy to be back in work.....Best of luck to all of you

Curlykat

Florida - I have to take basically 4 days away, though one will be Memorial Day. My RO wasn't concerned, saying that it might be a good time to give my body a rest. We'll just tack those days on the end, if needed.

CassieCat

Mombie, the only SEs I really have from Herceptin that I can spot are fatigue the day of infusion (probably just mental), my GI tract tends more toward diarrhea than it used to (could be a linger SE from chemo, too) and my hair isn't growing as fast as I see in others (generally speaking). Otherwise, Herceptin is a non-event for me so far, knock on wood.

MombieZombie

Cassie--That's doesn't sound too bad, all things considered. I'm hoping that my next herceptin will be easier now that I'm done with rads.

Now that I've stopped putting anything on my rads wounds, I'm healing in high speed! I was getting worse every day I used the Silvadene and the Aquaphor. I quit on Thursday and my skin is almost completely closed up now and the pain is gone.

CurlyG--Welcome!

Cbooklvr--Have fun with that cornstarch. Maybe just bring some in a towel and roll in it once in a while. LOL One time I just dumped some into my cami bra and used it to pat the starch into place. It stayed in place pretty well..... but then I forgot about it and I was standing in a cornstarch mess on my bedroom floor when I went to change my clothes. <sigh>

BookLady1

Good luck tomorrow, Cherice, my fellow 10/14 chemo start sister! SO much easier than chemo - you got this! Same to the rest of you starting up!

Ditto to the post fatigue- I slept all weekend.

Florida - I have tatoos and they are so teeny tiny I can't find them right away. Blend with freckles, moles, etc.

Wishing you all a strong week! XO Linda

DaisyQ

Hello Everyone!

I have only 5 more radiation treatments! Over the weekend my skin got really red, itchy, and sore. No blisters or peeling. It feels like a bad sunburn. My tumor was about 2:00 on the right side so the skin on my chest and neck is involved too. It ain't pretty, but after chemo, surgery, and tissue expanders..I'm getting used to things that aren't pretty!

I find myself getting more and more emotional during treatment. Since I still get Herceptin infusions and have more surgery ahead, this is the first "last" in my cancer story. I'll be saying thanks and goodbye to my team of techs this time next week. Feels like a big deal. I am sure I'll get weepy. It seems like a good cry is always lurking just below the surface.

Mombie:I had two Herceptin treatments during radiation and I felt like the SE's seemed a bit more noticeable. Like Cassie, I tend to have more issues with the big D since chemo. It seems to be a problem after Herceptin and was definitely worse during rads. I had hot flashes, sleep issues and nausea too. I hope Herceptin after rads will be easier for us all.

Cassie: I agree that hair regrowth might be slower for those of us who continue with Herceptin after big chemo. Mine is maybe 1/2 inch long and I am 16 weeks PFC. It is straight and I am starting to look like a brunette Elroy Jetson. It is "mohawking" off to the side. Goofy.

CurlyG23 & Farmdau: For me fatigue hasn't really been an issue. It seems the busier I am, the more energy I have..? I thought I would be wiped out by now, but I am okay. So much more tolerable than chemo! I have been very deliberate about keeping to a strict sleep schedule since finishing chemo which I believe has helped a lot.

Cbooklvr: I have used lots of cornstarch. It has been easy for me to brush it off my clothing when I got it all over. I read somewhere that you can put some into a fine sock or knee high stocking and apply it that way. Maybe that would be less messy. At this point, I just don't care anymore so I just grab a bit in my fingers and rub it on!

Evilmidget: Congrats on your last day of rads! Woot!!

Have a great day!

Amy

NurseShark

1down 27 to go! I was very anxious and cried right before but now that this is under my belt I feel better!

Tobycc

Nurseshark: right there with you --- I had first one today also. I also have an ICD (defrib) above my left breast so I was worried about that. It was fine: they use a magnet to turn it off during procedure.

SO, a "newbie" here. I am active on a couple of other threads, but no nothing about rads. I think I purposely did the minimal research so I did not have to think about it. Finished chemo 3 weeks ago.

I am looking forward to reading past posts and catching up.

Blessings,

K

Tobycc

Hey Cherice and other old friends from the Sept/ October chemo thread

I asked my tech/ PA about lotions the first time I went and they said " oh we have samples when the time comes you need it"

So of course I am sending DH out tomorrow to get lotion and cornstarch: which they also did not mention. Just dab on throughout the day?

My X is towards the top left hand side of my right breast

K

RosyWorld

What a welcoming and understanding community. Thank you for your encouragements and prayers.

Started second week today. My skin is doing well so far, but I realize it is early yet. I've been using clear aloe vera gel and just today received an order of calendula gel. (I couldn't find it locally either, but found it online at iHerb.)

I'm really tired today but not because of RT. My daughter was due with her first baby this past weekend, but on Friday at a regular prenatal appointment was told she might have preeclampsia. She checked into the hospital and they confirmed. After quite a wild ride their sweet little boy was born on Saturday afternoon. She and baby are doing really well. I called her pregnancy a beautiful distraction in the midst of a cancer diagnosis--though none of us needed quite this much excitement.

Holding that little one over these next weeks will be a great way to pass the radiation weeks.

I do have a question. Did any of you find tenderness in lumpectomy site growing as you moved further through the weeks. Normal? Just temporary? Any suggestions?

Evilmidget

Today was my last day...I got to ring a bell and got a certificate of completion (they are VERY supportive at my oncology group). My RO looked at my incision (which is a little "weepy" due to the boosts) and told me my chest looks very good and to just keep the SSR cream on my incision for the next week. He also said the fatigue might last another month and a half, but should start getting better soon because of how I've been responding so far.

I'm looking forward to a lot more free time without the daily treatments. Ahhhhhh....so nice.

Nomatterwhat

Toby, you can do this!!!!  Much easier than chemo.  I used Aquaphor and silverdene when I really hurt.  I put my cornstarch in an old nylon and kept it in a sandwich bag.  I did rads on my lunch hour,  so I kept not only cornstarch, but a bottle of perfume in my desk just in case I needed the extra good smell help.  Keep me informed.   I'm just out here hanging out.  

cbooklvr

Tobycc waving Hi My Dr just allows cornstarch now, they will give me cream or something when my skin has a reaction.

My 1st day went fine, 27 to go...

Cherice

MombieZombie

Rosy--Definitely had a lot of tenderness in my lumpectomy sight. I think it's normal. Always ask if you aren't sure though. Congrats on the new Grandbaby. I can't wait to be a grandma. My DH is building me a special garden for me to take my grandchildren to play in someday.

Congrats on finishing EvilMidget!! Yes, the free time is such a blessing. Enjoy!

Good luck to those who are just starting. You can do this!

Jeeper4

Good luck to all of you just starting rads. I just finished mine yesterday and the last of my stickers fell off this morning in the shower. (they told me not to pull them off or it might pull off some skin) I only had minor SE from it: red, itchy, freckles, tenderness, zingers. After my first treatment, I came home and burst into tears. IDK why, there is no pain from the treatment itself, just emotional I suppose. Hoping the Tamox/AI will go as well, fingers crossed.

kathy7

you will do great! I had some discomfort the last week.  but you are so excited to be at the end and seeing progress (eye lashes, hair), that it is not bad.  I am two weeks done and spring has sprung for me in a bigger way than ever before.  Rejoice for what is coming!

NurseShark

2 nd radiation therapy today. Thought I got all my jitters out yesterday but once again today while getting in position I started crying Again! I don't know what scares me soon much about this step but I just get a wave of anxiety and feel completely overwhelmed and I can't hold tears back. Anybody else experience this? What do you do to relax self before/ during treatment?

I do yoga ( or did before surgery) regularly so try to pull from those meditation techniques but can't get outta my head.

Janiner

NurseShark: I don't know what it is that makes me weepy at times during rads. Maybe it's the laying and being still that brings on random thoughts composed of some anxiety, thankfulness, and many emotions while we lay.
Last Thursday my 16 year old daughter text me from highschool that her article was picked for the school website. I was so proud. I laid on the rads table with tears running down my face. They were happy happy proud mama tears. I had to explain to the tecs because they were so concerned that something was wrong. Just the opposite!

So far so good. I just completed 11 of 30 rads. Just pink and tender at this point. RO will begin looking at my chest every Tuesday from here on out. BTW.. I get xrays every Tuesday as well. Monday the 2oth will be half way point!!

Take care all!

Janine