Share inspiring messages/photos to help others

Patty66

Hi Toad,

Are you still receiving messages in this group?

Just felt like telling you that I love your drawing. It immediately inspired me to take my pencils and drawing paper with me to treatments/waiting rooms etc. (in the second half of chemo right now).

Thanks for sharing!

suzare

Hello Toad -- Your drawing is just brilliant and so beautiful. It belongs in a museum. I hope in chronicling your radiation journey through your art helped you get through it with a little less fear and angst. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

~Susan

suzare

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my first and most anxious fear was about radiation therapy -- even more than the surgery. My first appointment was meeting with the RO and the Dosimetrist. For someone who is usually quite chatty, I was mostly dumbstruck. My husband was with me (who is my Rock and my memory and as through all of my appointments) and remembers everything and keeps notes for the 100 times I will ask him the same question again. Like a lot if not most of us, I Google everything and the thought of being restrained for the treatment and the possibility of some very bad burns, I ratcheted up in anxiety. The Simulation took three hours. I have torn rotator cuffs in each shoulder and spine issues, but the worst part was being restrained in the mold they make for the entire time. I will fast forward through the next five weeks of the actual treatment to say that ALL of my fears were in vain. The people who cared for me were so kind and patient, I changed my mindset to being grateful that this treatment could help save my life. Other than some mild discomfort during the treatment, it was not at all difficult to endure. I will miss seeing these kind people every day for the five weeks I was there. As far as burns, they are certainly there, but are healing up well. I'm entering the brown leather phase ;*)

Racheldog

I would like to hear from those of you who finished radiation how often the Radiation oncologist is supposed to follow up? I did 4 weeks of whole breast radiation and had one meeting with my radiation onc about two weeks after completion. That was almost six months ago. I sort of feel like that was the "see ya" appointment and then we are supposed to go back to our regular medical onc?

I understand that unless we have some specific issues that maybe we are no longer to be followed by them? I have had some tightness and mild rib pain but I sort of stretch myself out and it is not horrible so I have not pushed to be followed. But is this standard that once radiation is completed you are sort of dumped out the door with no further follow up----ever? Would appreciate experiences from others?

Aklynna

Radiation was definitely the “easiest” part of treatment for me. I was very lucky and skated thru with nothing more than some tiredness. I actually looked forward to seeing my rad techs each day.

I was extremely anxious/nervous prior to starting treatment. One thing that helped was when the lead tech took me into the treatment room to show me the machine and how everything operated on the day of my simulation. Made the 1st day of actual treatment way less scary. Each of my treatments consisted of 2 doses, each lasting about 15 sec.

nipab

I had lumpectomy followed by radiation six years ago. radiation was the easiest part of the whole treatment and 'waiting for the test result' process. I had to drive about 25 minutes each way for six weeks. Not to mention, I had just started a new job in completely opposite direction, so total drive was a lot. They had a very nice and organized set up, so 10 minutes in and out of the building. Radiation is nothing more than an X-ray, albeit very high frequency and that's why your skin burns. My skin started to change color at three week mark and by the end, it was dark. I used the cream they gave me. Stopped wearing bra for few months during and after radiation.

It took about 4 months for color to come back, but no problem during or after. Only thing to remember, if you ever need to do mastectomy and reconstruction, you may not be able to use implant on radiated breast. You have to use DIEP- tissue from your other body parts.

Wish everyone who is going through radiation very best. Relax and enjoy those few minutes, those may be the only few minutes you have for yourselves in a day!