Spring 2016 Rads

EmilyJane7505

Hello All, Just checking in. Glad to see some familiar faces from the January-start chemo group! I've had 8/28 radiation treatments so far and my skin still looks normal (as expected for early on). I have definitely been feeling fatigued though - having cheerios for dinner and going to bed early kind of tired. Little nervous to see how the side effects - particularly the fatigue progresses.

Ingerp

valstim--just chiming in that there's lots of great info on this thread but I also spent quite a bit of time on the Winter 2015-16 thread before I got started. Everybody there has really been finished for a while and has a whole story to tell. (And just when I was being all "hey this is not bad!" this morning, I went to take a shower and definitely getting the "itchy bumpies" they've been referring to at the RO's office. I imagine I'll be getting some cortisone cream when I see them today. <grumble grumble grumble>

Sheri64

#32 of 36 today only 4 more to go, I can't wait my breast is toasted.  This weekend is our local Relay for Life, never thought I would be there as a Survivor. 

Ivegotthis

So as I hop on the table Wednesday for my 10th rad, I said that I was so tired last night I slept 9 hours straight. The radiologist said that my type of radiation (for BC) does not cause fatigue. Afterwards I needed blood work and the nurse asked me how I am. I said how I tired I was and mentioned how much I slept. She said it is normal to feel fatigued and tosleep more. I told that a few minutes earlier I was told the opposite. She was surprised that I would be told that. FWIW, I slept 11 hours straight last night! I don't understand how professionals in the same office could give contradictory information.

Deaconlady

That is odd Ivegotthis. I had #19 today. When my techs asked how I was, I told them that I had gotten really tired today. It hit me pretty hard, I haven't been as tired lately. They said it was normal. I guess having a slow quiet day at work made it worse? I'm just happy to be finishing soon.

LovesToFly

No fatigue yet at 9/25. When will it start?

Sunnyone22

LovestoFly - about week 4 I started feeling the fatigue. it started with rubbery legs when I was out walking so I cut back on miles. Then I started getting 'sinkers' - energy droops in the afternoon. I relaxed - didn't always nap but honored the fatigue. Worst fatigue for me was a week AFTER rads ended. Then I got my strength and energy back fairly quickly.

Katzpjays

Grazy and Sheri - if I have it right the two of you are now graduates. Congratulations!

Grazy

Katzpjs - Yes, I finished today, thank you for remembering! I had my appointment this morning to which my husband and daughters came along - the techs were so sweet and hugged me goodbye. After my treatment, we all went to the end of the hall and I hit that gong! I could hear applause from the various waiting rooms and that sure made me teary. As I was leaving, one woman said, "I'll be finished Tuesday and then I can hit the gong, too!". It's was just an emotional morning all around.

After all that, we went for brunch and then I hit the ground running with my younger daughter as today is her senior prom - and you know how it goes, nails, hair, photos, more photos. It's been an exciting day around here for everyone and I've finally had a chance to sit down and put my feet up. My husband caught a late flight to Chicago for ASCO (means more to me this year and he'd better attend sessions that will interest me, in addition to what he needs to take in for his own work!!!), younger daughter is dancing her heart out at prom, and older daughter is going out on the town. I'm pouring myself a lovely of glass of wine and continuing to celebrate by myself now (lol!). The best part is that all four of us are now getting on with life - as normal - starting today. No looking back for me.

You'll all be finished soon, too. Hang in there

Edit: (it's been a couple of days so I'm deleting my "gong" photo (below) now - don't think I want my face on here in perpetuity, haha!

Grazy

Here's the gong!! Yep, it's loud.

Bliss58

Welcome, Valstim52! Congrats to those who have finished. Nice photo of the gong, Grazy. They don't have a gong at my center, but I get a "graduation certificate." haha

I finished 19/25 today and now get a long weekend's break with my daughter. Going to the desert for a family visit and one day dino bone dig with a local museum working a nearby quarry. DD thinks she wants to be a paleontologist. Techs and RO emphasized covering up; yeah, yeah, yeah, no need for extra natural rads.

MelancholyInNC

I am done with #7 out of 30! Accelerated was not an option for me due to my age. Started having side effects after #3. My Breast is pink, swollen, & tender. My RO was concerned so she placed some things on my breast to measure the actual radiation that my skin was getting. (She was concerned that I was getting too much.) However, the measurements were good. So, this is just SE that I will have to deal with. I'm kinda bummed out about it. I now need a bigger bra.

Congrats to all of you that are finishing up! I know that is a burden lifted. Now it's time to get back to enjoying your life!

Hootowl

I finished 9 of 33 radiation treatments today. Skin is a little pink, no itching, but there is some swelling involved. My doctor said to try 30 grams of Glutamine per day for the swelling. Has anyone tried this? I have been using calendula and Aquaphor which seems to be a good combination

So far things are going pretty well. Two weeks ago my husband hugged me and I think a rib cracked on the opposite side. One way to distract your mind to something else, LOL. Hope everyone is doing well!

Ingerp

LTF--I had that one midday bout of serious fatigue on Monday, 9 treatments in but after a pretty big weekend. I've really been fine since (crossing fingers and toes).

Bjsmiller--coincidentally a male co-worker just finished rads for prostate cancer and got a certificate for graduating. He had a small party at which one friend said, "make sure you don't go to graduate school." 😊

Grazy--CONGRATULATIONS!!! My place only has a bell--I kinda wish it were a gong. So happy you have lots of fun family stuff going on. What a wonderful crazy return to normal life. Now go enjoy your summer!!

I put four creams on my hooter before getting out of bed this morning because hell why not. The aloe and lanolin from my RO's office, some cortisone cream for the "itchy bumpies," and some Miaderm that I bought before the start of rads based on glowing reviews from the Winter rads group. I'm getting a little tired of it all--whatever I wear to tx gets all goopy and the sharpie marks I get every day bleed on my bra/shirt after I put the goop on. The good news is hooray! It's the weekend!! And only two more whole breast for me!! And last full week coming up!! I ran into my RO at the elevator yesterday and she gave me some encouraging words. "You're in the home stretch." It kinda feels like it.

New-girl

I just finished my 11/33 today.  Today was also my doctor visit day and I have a dumb question.  What actually does the RO do?  I mean I know she saw me before I started and looked at all my info and made the treatment plan.  She from what I understand, met with the physics guys and figured the rad rays and position and all the technique stuff.  But I never see her except on Fridays and the nurse asks how my skin is doing, and she comes in and asks the same thing and says great and leaves.  Today I had a list of questions like how do you know my body is absorbing the correct amount ( there is no way to know), why is the Canadian protocol shorter ( they are starting to do it here but only for women with breasts intact not mastectomies), and final question was will my skin continue to do well ( she answered yes).  So I gather she would look at me more closely if there was a problem but during the normal week does she have anything to do with my treatment? So far other than getting me started, I am not impressed with the long waits for the appointments just so she can say everything is fine. 

Grazy

Ingerp, Congratulations on being in the home stretch! It's pretty exciting when you can see the end.

I can second, for those worried about severe fatigue, that I only had a day as well where I crashed - it was like a tired like I'd never felt before, but I had really, really pushed myself that weekend physically and by Sunday night, I went *boom*. That was about 2.5 weeks in. Otherwise, I operated normally throughout my rads. Perhaps it's harder on those who've had chemo? Not sure. My skin also showed a bit of redness and mild, mild itching at around treatment #18, otherwise I had no skin issues and I didn't use any product until week 3, and I used the Glaxal Base my RO gave me. Everyone's different, that's for sure. I'm a little sore under the arm where the lymph node area was radiated and can't wear an underwire bra, that's for sure, but my tech said yesterday that since that area wasn't affected by the boosts, it's as a bad as it's going to get and will return to normal eventually.

I love the comment made at your friend's graduation party: "make sure you don't go to graduate school" - yep, this is when we don't want any higher 'education', haha!

New-girl, the only question I can answer is what is different about the Canadian protocol.... it's 'hypofractionated radiation therapy (shorter courses of radiation treatment administered in larger daily fraction sizes) compared with longer courses of conventionally fractionated radiation therapy'.

Hootowl, sorry about your rib! Hope you feel better soon. Nice that your husband gives you such big hugs though!! (looking on the bright side! haha)

Melancholy, sorry you're having side effects so early, that's such a drag. I hope the weeks go by quickly.

Bjsmiller, you're in the home stretch too! Enjoy the desert - sounds like fun, kind of relaxing!

Hello to everyone else. Remember #RadiateTHIS !!! I had it in my head during every treatment and, in a weird way, it helped! I will come back for the next while and cheer the rest of you on as you cross your finish lines.

Randi1035

DONE! 34 RADS 8 BOOSTS!

About 3 weeks in I had terrible burning and one open sore in the armpit. I used DR. GOOGLE and found out that Silvadene is great for that. Asked for a script and schmeared it VERY THICK on my breast and armpit twice a day. The whole area improved in about a week.

WHY they didn't tell me about Silvadene is beyond me, but this whole experience (except for the techs - great young girls with an amazing bedside manner) was more or less going to the RAD FACTORY every day.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS I FOUND THAT REALLY REALLY HELPED:

100% pure Aloe at the beginning followed by a lot of Aquaphor every night. Then, when you start to burn ask for Silvadene. If you are itchy get a script for Cortisone.

There is an alchohol free astringent called DOMEBORO powder. You mix a packet with 2 cups of water and refrigerate it. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and place across breast for 15 minutes once or twice a day (if you have time, at night if you don't. Do it while laying down) It's kinda shocking because it's very very cold, so prepare yourself, but the cloth will get HOT really quick once it starts absorbing the heat from your breast.

For the HOT FLASHES:

Try Remiferin PURE Black Cohosh, not the kind with Soy. I use 20 mg in the morning. At night I take 20 mg regular Remiferin and 1 20 mg Remiferin GoodNight with Meletonin. Keeps the night sweats down to maybe 1 or 2 (I was having 10 or more)

GET SOME ARCITC COOL TOWELS from Amazon. Buy 2 for $12.00 They really really help the Hot Flashes pass quickly. You just wet them, wring them out, snap it and wear it. Stays cold for 2 hours and it isn't soaking wet, just damp. Have one by your bed. When you have night sweats, place it across your chest. Carry the other one with you during the day.

Also, put some cabbage leaves in a Zip Lock bag in the fridge and put them on when you're on fire.

Hope this helps someone get through it.

I'm going to start the Femara tonight. I didn't take them while doing Rads.

Katzpjays

Randi - Congrats on finishing rads! Your tips are really appreciated...I'm going to keep those cabbage leaves ready (just in case)

Grazy

Congrats on finishing rads, Randi! That was a really long haul - 34 rads and 8 boosts!!! - holy cow!

When do you finish, Katzpjs?

Ingerp

New girl--there's lots of info about the Canadian hypofractionation protocol on the Internet. I'd read quite a bit about it before I started. And sorry about the difficult/time-consuming/frustrating RO appointments. I think it's standard procedure to meet with the RO once a week although mine only add a few minutes to the appt--I get zapped, meet with a nurse, meet with the RO, and head on home. Might be 10 minutes longer than a regular appointment. Re:your questions, besides your friend Google, there's a lot of info on this site--articles as well as the discussion boards.

Randi--hooray!!! You can join Grazy and the others in letting us know how it's going on the other side.

Katzpjays

I finish on June 29th...my 31st wedding anniversary

Grazy

Katzpjays - what a special anniversary it will be on the 29th - so much to celebrate! It will be here before you know it.

Lovinggrouches

Boy, I miss a lot when I don't get on here every day! Been so busy between working LOTS of hours to prepare for my surgery Thursday and making myself work out at the gym every day, even when I don't feel like it lol! Now I'm getting house clean and all laundry caught up to prepare for not being able to do much for a while. Congrats to all finished and about to be finished with rads!!!!! It will seem weird at first, not going every day and being so crazy, but then it feels great afterwards! I won't lie that the worry then sets in about what comes next- I guess that eventually gets better too. Hugs to all!!!

Katzpjays

Lgrouches-in your pocket Thursday. Good for you keeping up with the gym! I think it does get easier the longer you stay with it. I am lifting weights 3X a week and walking 5 miles the other days....at least as long as I don't have any significant fatigue. So grateful I'm retired. Much tougher challenge for those of you still working.

Hootowl

Congrats to all of you that have completed your radiation treatment! I wish you all the best. I also wanted to clarify about the Glutamine treatment for swelling and skin irritation from radiation. Glutamine is an amino acid that is in powder form. Thirty grams are to be ingested daily divided into three 10 mg doses. It can be sprinkled on food or mixed in a beverage. Anyway I'm trying it and I'll post how it goesl.

I also want to get some psychological help for anxiety, but can't decide on a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. If anyone has any thoughts on this I would welcome them.

LovesToFly

I would see a social worker who specializes in CBT for anxiety. Mindfulness can also be very effective.

ncsue927

I just wanted to send some encouragement to those of you still going through radiation. I finished 5.5 weeks on May 19th. I did pretty well with the radiation, my problem was I developed Ulcerative Colitis while I was in radiation which made me pretty sick. But as far as radiation went I experienced very red skin which eventually peeled, no blisters. It didn't hurt, just very red. I also got the little bumps and freckles, but they have pretty much gone away. I also experienced some very sharp, shooting pains, which the tech said was normal from the radiation. I used only Lubriderm lotion which I have used all my life and my skin did pretty well. When my skin was really red, I did the soaks with baking soda and salt. Those were really helpful. I was told that the redness would continue to peak a week after I stopped radiation, but I did not find that to be true. My skin is healing very quickly and is just a little tanned now. I did not get the terrible fatigue, but I did get tired easily. Still do on some days.

So hang in there....this too shall pass and you will start to feel better.

Grazy

LG - I'm jumping into your pocket for Thursday as well. It will be wonderful to get that surgery over with, won't it. You sound well prepared for the big day.

PlanB58

Grazy and Randi- congrats on finishing!! Enjoy your appointment free days! It must feel both wonderful and kind of weird.

Katzpjays- June 29 is also our 31 Anniversary! You will have one to remember! I should finish up on the 20th.

LG best of luck on Thursday! Positive thoughts sent your way.

I have really itchy bumpy skin. Cortisone cream does help. Currently thankful for having only 6 more WB. Need to get my chest out of the way! Hopefully it will start feeling better during the boosts.

Welcome to all new members

Grazy

Thanks, PlanB! I've been so happy all weekend that I'm all done! Not going tomorrow will be wonderful and NOT weird - I'm going to make sure of it!! haha! I've made a plan to go for a long walk along the river trail during my regular appointment time tomorrow morning; that ritual will replace the treatment appointments.

The funniest thing happened today: backing up first.... at the beginning of my radiation treatment, a friend sent me a link to Imagine Dragons' song "Radioactive" teasing me and asking if I felt "radioactive" yet; it became my theme song during rads and my girls blasted it in the car on the way to my final treatment. During my last treatment, Justin Timberlake's song "Can't Stop the Feeling" was playing in the room and as he sings "Just dance, dance, dance now..." I was thinking - yep! I'm going to leave here and just dance, dance, dance now. This afternoon, she sent me another email and said I have a good song for you now that you're finished rads and - yes, it was "Can't Stop the Feeling". So funny (and so weird!) - I couldn't believe she sent that song!!

"...Cause I got that sunshine in my pocket
Got that good soul in my feet..."