August 2018 Starting Radiation

lg10

Hi all. I wanted to join in. I finish taxol on Friday. Thank goodness!! And I have my first radiation consultation on Aug. 2. Not sure what to expect, but hoping to breeze through radiation after4.5 months of chemo. Fingers crossed.

Ingerp

lg10 I am exactly one week behind you. I have #12 on 8/3 and my mammo/scan/chat with my RO on 8/9. I’ll start rads on 8/20. I went through it two years ago on the other side and it wasn’t that big a deal. Yes I got tired by the end but that and some funky skin were about it. You have got this!!

Djt

I joined this group for August radiation because I will have it the whole month, and know a lot of you ladies from the April chemo thread. But I started yesterday, today was my 2nd rad session.

So far, it's ok. I'm in and out in 15 to 20 minutes from the walk in the door to the walk out. Never very crowded, so far. It's strange, but I feel like they got it figured out, and I'm just going to go day by day. No redness, no pain. Using aloe and corn starch. They gave me a tube of cream that is for 1st and 2nd degree burns , so we'll see down the road, hopefully wont need but good to have

MoniThor

I start radiation on Monday, July 30th and finish on August 17th, so I thought I’d join the August group. 15 treatments. No boosts. I didn’t think anything of this treatment plan as it is what my MO, RO and surgeon recommended.

But now that I’m reading more posts and threads about radiation treatment, I’m noticing that almost everyone gets boosts at the end. I will have to ask RO more questions about my treatment plan. Is there anyone here who is not getting boosts at the end of treatment?

Another question...and this one might seem silly. My treatments are in the afternoon. I want to keep my breast moisturized, but I know I can’t go to appointment with lotion on my breast area. So do I moisturize in the morning and shower shortly before appointment? Or shower in the morning and not put anything on breast until after appointment?

Or am I just overthinking this whole thing? LO

Ingerp

I think last time I just showered in the morning, put on face/body lotion as I always do (which did not include the breast area), and lotioned up after rads. Some women bring lotion with them to put on in the changing room afterwards.

Djt

Hi, Moni i am having 28 treatments. Nothing was ever mentioned about "boosts . Never heard the word. I hope they don't spring somthing on me at the end, i don't do doctor surprises well.

What is a boost? An extra rad session? A stronger session? Who gets them and why?

Lotions=I was told no lotions for one hour after session. I use some ice packs when I get back in my vehicle to just cool it down, i saw on radiation thread another woman who recommended this. then when the hour is up, i slather on whatever. At day 2 for me, I'm using pure aloe. Again at night, and then corn starch powder when it is absorbed.

Now I'm wondering if my twisted mental state got it wrong, and it's no lotions 1 hour before treatment....Or maybe it's both before and after. My time is early am, so I don't anyway.

Ingerp

The first rads are photon and go through the breast and are meant to treat the whole area. Many women get boosts at the end—electrons that go to a specific depth and target the tumor bed.

MoniThor

Thanks, Ingerp. I will definitely ask RO more questions about boosts.

Djt- you are not the first person that mentioned no lotions one hour after rads. I think I will take the tube of aloe they gave me with me to my first day of treatment and ask (haha questions questions and more questions). I live an hour away from the treatment center, and if possible, I want to slather up before the long drive home.

duffyzmom

Still not 100% sure I'll be starting in August but that is my hope. I see RO August 2nd.

DJT- I'm a DD and I found some soft cheap bras. They do not have underwire but seem to offer decent support (I had a breast lift a few years ago so that may be helping me).

Hanes Women's Comfort Evolution Bra
Hanes
Link: http://a.co/gBDO3RI

Djt

duffysmom, thank you for the info on bras, i like Haynes, will check it out! Thanks!

Djt

Monithor, maybe use ice packs directly after treatment, that could get you the hour into drive time, then the lotions, best, djt

Djt

Ingerp, thanks for the boost info!

MoniThor

Thanks, Djt! That is a great idea. I will bring ice packs in a cooler to radiation and use them on the long drive home

Djt

So, iv had radiation this week, Tues thru Fri. So far, other than the repetition of the same thing every morning, i have no issues. Saw the rad onco Dr and WILL see her once a week to check breast skin condition....She said I was doing great, and they expect by next week still will be ok. Im doing... icing, aloe, cornstarch several times a day.

On the down side, i asked her about boosts. All of a sudden my schedule went out the window, as on my way out the door they gave me a new one. Dr. Had forgotten to figure in the boost days! So I am suddenly looking at from July 24 to Sept. 10!! I called and told them , actually repeated, what I had asked for a month ago. To be done by Sept. They had assured me at that time, I would be, 28 days of treatment was from 7.24 to 8.31, so I guess they are going to alter up the actual rad prescription to fit it all in, depending on how my skin tolerates it as the plan progresses.

I think my onco clinic is top notch, but wow, i have had to question everything along the way. I guess that's not a bad thing.

astyanax66

Sorry I've been out of the loop, with the start of a new school year. I was 4 minutes away from getting into the shower and heading to my CT/simulation for rads yesterday when the RO called (herself, on her cell phone, so that was something) to apologize for an emergency procedure she had to attend. I've been rescheduled for the simulation on the 6th, and I don't know if I'll get rads then or later or....nothing. This is causing so much havoc at work (not knowing when I'll be there) that I've been non-functional. I did got to Herceptin-alone treatment 2 in the afternoon. Hope everyone is doing well so far and not experiencing too many negative effects!

Dee

moth

Hi, I'll hopefully be in this group.

I finished Taxol on July 19 & have my CT mapping on Aug 1. They haven't given me the start dates for my rads yet though.

At my initial RO consult they recommended 16 whole breast + 4 boosts. I'm keen to get it over & done with as I start school on Sep 4.

Ingerp

moth my guess is you could ask to start 8/6. My MO said to wait 2-3 weeks post chemo but like you (all of us I’m sure) I’d like to get this over with ASAP. My last chemo is 8/3 and I’ll start rads 8/20.

moth

The thing is, I don't get to ask. I go when I get a slot.

On the plus side of our system, we have public healthcare, nobody goes bankrupt over medical bills, everyone gets essentially the same evidence based treatments. On the minus side, you get your spot assigned based on priority of everyone.

They slot you in and inform you and you get what you get. They told me originally I would start sometime between 2-6 weeks pfc, depending on how busy the radiology department was (& one machine was down for repairs so that was causing delays) and who was in the queue - people who are needing it for palliative & hospice care get priority.

Signs point to it being sooner rather than later though because they did say the didn't like too much time to elapse between the mapping & starting treatment.

Ingerp

Roger all that. Forgot you’re one of our Canadian sisters

moth

Has anyone had their CT mapping done yet? Is it possible for them to find tumors or mets during this CT scan?

I know they told me it's not meant to be a diagnostic CT but they might see something else while they're doing it, right? Now I'm kind of freaking myself out.

Ingerp

moth--honestly I've never heard of that. Try not to worry about it.

moth

I thought I'd imagined this but just had a quick search and several people found 'stuff' on this CT scan. Bone abnormalities on a rib, swollen lymph nodes etc leading to more tests etc.

MoniThor

Moth- I had my CT scan/mapping, measurements and tattoos on July 20th. I had/have the exact fears you mentioned. All of last week I held my breath, waiting and wondering if my RO had looked at my scans and if everything looked ok. I have my first radiation treatment today, in a few hours, and I’m STILL holding my breath. Not about the treatment. I’m not even worried about that. I’m still worried about the scan, from the 20th. It’s enough to drive one crazy....

moth

MoniThor, we'll be driven crazy together then! Hey sister, we've got very similar cancers. I also see you joined in Dec like I did but holy cow, look at how much I yack. My post count is crazy & you're very quiet lol

Good luck on your first treatment today! Hope it all goes smoothly & fwiw, I think you can exhale now - I figure if they'd seen anything they would have told you before the first treatment.

Djt

Moth and Mono, i had mine done on 7.23 and was totally ignorant of the fact that anything else was being viewed or could have shown up. Nothing did, I'm thankful, the onco Dr. Mentioned she could view liver, rib bones, etc. So it's a good thing more insurance all is clear, I'm sure you would have been notified very soon if not clear. Breath deep, we got this.

MoniThor

Thanks, Djt. All went well today. One treatment down, 14 to go. My appointment was at 2:30. I arrived a little early. Maybe 2:20. Changed and waited just a few minutes before technician came and got me. They told me the first treatment would take a bit longer, but I was dressed (after I slathered up with aloe Vera in dressing room-technician said it was ok) and back in my car by 2:45.

A few things I noticed-although I have a hospital wristband I’m to wear every time, no one scanned it or even asked to see it. This was different than the chemo center. I was scanned, double checked by 2nd nurse, asked my name and birthdate and then had me verify my name on chemo bags. Much more relaxed at this center.

Halfway through radiation I noticed the machine seemed to move to theleft side of my body (it is my right breast that needs radiation). So I start thinking “what if they have the wrong patient? What if they think I’m someone else and they are radiating wrong breast”. Of course I had to tell the technicians after that I noticed the part of the machine that seemed to be aimed at the left side of my body. They reassured me it was all about the angles.

I guess I just always need SOMETHING to worry about!

Moth- We DO have similar dx. I think I was so quiet on the boards during chemo because I was so overwhelmed and out of it much of the time. I did read when I could the Feb chemo thread and was so thankful for those of you who posted.

RobinJ3024

Well, I had my Radiation Therapy Consult today, and I will be getting 16 radiation treatments. Asked him about boosts and such and he said with such early stage cancer, he didn't think that was necessary. So, I go next week for the set up, and then start on the 20th. Ready to get this nonsense over with!

Ingerp

Robin I'll be joining you with my first on the 20th! I understand I'm getting 33 this time. I have all of my preliminary appointments on 8/9 (mammo/scan/tattoos/meet with RO/. . . )--busy day!

emac877

Hi all, I will be starting Rad Tx in late August after I finish my last round of TC on 8/10. I meet with the RO on 8/9 to go over questions and do the initial mapping. I got a little freaked out talking to him the other day because he mentioned that I should consider doing the lymphatic system also. I had microscopic findings in one of my three nodes that were removed and my Oncotype was 27 so he felt that doing the lymph would be warranted. The problem I have with this is the increased risk of lymphedema and the fact it will damage up to 30% of the functional lung volume on the right side if I do that. Not sure I feel that the lymph is worth it over doing just the breast/chest wall. I am going to run the idea by my oncologist also. I have had a rough go of it with chemo, I'm really hoping Rad Tx will be a little better.

duffyzmom

I'm working on my questions for the RO. I see him tomorrow. Does tumor type play a role in determining how much radiation you receive? I have looked all over the internet but the only information I find talks about stage and risk of recurrence.