SEPTEMBER 2008 rads group
Comments
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Jane - oops, forgot to mention 33 treatments.
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Just finished #10 today, 25 to go. So far no change in my skin. I am very fair and freckled so I'm pleasantly surprised, so far. A little bit of extra sensitivity in my nipple, but not really bothersome. Also, no fatigue yet. I have pretty good energy, and feel I can continue my routine of walking and jogging. Glad to hear you're all doing well. Good luck to those starting Monday. Have a great weekend!
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I had 4 this week of 33, and no SE so far. I have a little shooting breast pain occasionally and still swollen lymph node place from surgery a month ago, but I had that before. No redness yet. But, everyone is different. If you had pinkness after 2, did they give you cream?
Tchmusik: what angle are they using for your radiation? Mine comes from 2 sides and I can't see how it could go through the back. Maybe it depends on where the tumor was.
dancemom: how are you doing? Is your mom keeping your spirits up? It is definitely good to have a sympathetic ear. We all need to talk-- hence this forum!
As for techs, I have 2 female techs, female nurses, but a male radiation onc. I don't mind, though, I'm used to it and he's a professional. I actually like him-- he spent two hours with me at my first appointment to plan radiation and showed me web sites and information on some partial breast irradiation options I was interested in (turned out I wasn't a good candidate). My oncologist is also female and very caring. I go to a small cancer center nearby that'spart of a hospital. It's great because they gave me early morning appointments, so I am there even before the receptionists! I get in and out and there is noone there but me and the techs. The waiting room is small but inside the center and away from the general waiting area.
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One of my 4 areas they radiate from the back area so I get hubby to put the cream on my WHOLE back every night- hope that continues past radiation. I have my 12 year old convinced he needs to do a massage every night because of the uncomfortable position during radiation. I have the whole family convinced that anything I like or wants makes my hair grow- so things like rubbing my head, chocolate, raspberries etc all make my hair grow!
Kristy
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Kristy, that's funny. My hair is growing so slowly, it bums me out. Wow, I'm trying to remember when my last chemo was....I know it was before labor day. I think it was August 21, so I'll be exactly one month after chemo. Rock, your start date is fine, I know you just want to start and get it over, me too. All the breast techs are female, the men have male patients. We have coed changing rooms and lockers, so I have to remember to close my gown.
I'm actually excited to start too. Just nervous about the fatigue. My job has been very stressful lately and I feel obligated to my work. My health should come first though, so we'll see how it goes.
Happy Saturday, we're expecting high 70's in the midwest today.
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It's funny how each place is different..at the rads center I go to for the rads treatments you just walk into the room and take your shirt off--we have 3 females and 1 male tech and altho I am getting used to it it is a little strange feeling..you then walk over to the table and lay your shirt across your chest and then they start moving you around and marking you up..sometimes the sharpie marks they have used need to be redone. Then they use the Bolus on me and use my shirt- which sometimes falls off during treatment- to cover my good side. I understand that it would take more time to put on those paper things so I just go with the flow and hope its over soon.
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Roxi, my hair also seemed to be growing back slowly...more slowly than I remembered from my chemo break during the summer. But when I looked at the actual dates, I realized it's about the same. It was really only in the seventh week post chemo that I had significant growth and filling in of the bald spots. I had my last chemo 8/22.
And talk about work stress! One of the people working for me just announced he was taking 10 days vacation in early October...just like that! Says he had told me about it in February but has no email or anything to back it up. I said, "A lot has happened since February and maybe this wasn't a good time to take off," especially since he's falling behind and guess who will have to pick up his slack while he's gone...while I'm still doing rads!
So I went to my boss and asked if I could have someone to come in to cover for him, and she said, "Do you really need someone?" Duh, why did she think I was asking?
Well, rad #14 down. Still red, itchy, and slightly blistered, but no peeling.
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Hi, everyone. Sharpie, I had to laugh about how bad you said your underarms smell! I can relate. Neither of the "safe" deodorants I've tried seem to work for more than a 1/2 hour, so I've been just using the cornstarch but trying to wash a few times a day!! Which has worked better. I went to a breast cancer-friendly lingerie shop after radiation the other day, and I was so ripe, I apologized to the owner, who laughed & asked me if she smelled like skunk because her cat had gotten sprayed the night before!!
Just finished my first week of a 3 week radiation protocol. No problems so far, except for fleeting nipple pain, but I've had nipple pain since the lumpectomy because my surgeon made her incision along the edge of the aureole. Would never have let her do that if I'd known what I was going to feel like afterwards. NOT a good idea!! We'll see how week 2 of rads go. If you want a laugh, everyone, go to my blog to see a breast that "glows in the dark," at www.kksphotos.com/blog.html.
Kathi
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Hi, all. Ready for a new week?
Today was the first weekend I really felt the fatigue from the rads. Got lots of good sleep, though.
Kristy, you are one wily woman! Chocolate and raspberries and massages--oh my!
As far as my rads team, I have 3 women and 1 man (I think he might be gay). They are all absolutely wonderful. The dressing rooms are single-sex, as far as I can tell. I've finally figured out how to find my way to the treatment room to the dressing room without getting lost! They make fun of me. I have NO sense of direction.
Hope everyone gets some good rest tonight and feels good for tomorrow.
Cheers,
Ace
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Maybe I'm just strange but I think the aloe gel has acted as a deodorant for me, anyone else notice this? I've done pretty good at keeping it under control but every now and then I've noticed slight odor during rads, I put the aloe on afterwards and have not noticed any odor for the rest of the day. It is 100% aloe, the stuff that Walmart stocks with no alcohol.
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Hi! Kristy - that cracks me up - you really have got a good thing going there!! ha ha
vhgh - I haven't noticed a problem either really - I use the aloe - same as you - from Walmart - right after treatment - not really sure if that is helping but I don't have a problem all day with odor.
midsum - I'm not sure from what angles I'm getting it - I know the machine moves around me alot and there are six times that I get zapped - my doc had told me to treat the back because I would probably burn back there - he was right. I had 13 or 15 nodes positive after surgery so I think they are really hitting me hard with the radiation.
I really haven't mentioned my hair on here - but - my chemo was finished the middle of May - surgery on June 9th and about a month ago my hair was long enough that I was comfortable without wearing a hat - so about three months after chemo ended - I guess. I still look like GI Jane but most people say the "look" is good for me - I just laugh and say - well - don't get use to it - cause it's not going to STAY that way.
Everybody have a good week - rest - take care of yourselves!!
Stephanie
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Hi everyone. I am new to this site. I've had chemo (4xAC, 2xTaxotare), surgery (mod rad mastectomy) with 10 lymph nodes taken. Started rads on August 18 -- so have gone through 23 so far of 35. 12 more to go!!!!
Was doing very well for a few weeks but last week I started to get sore and red. Especially under my arm. Started out using Aloe Vera (pure) and then switched to SilverDene. Now that there are parts of the area getting red and sore, am using Xerofoam pads just for under the arm. It is essentially a cloth soaked in medicated petroleum jelly type substance. Its soothing but messy!
Reading all your posts has helped me - thanks!
Emily
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KristyAnn: I LOVE that you have your family persuaded that the things you love make your hair grow! And who knows, it may not be wrong. I'm sure that stress keeps it from growing as fast, so therefore.......
Welcome EmilyJane. SilverDene is a burn cream-- I remember it from a very bad burn I got from boiling water, and it worked very well. I'll remember that if (when?) I start to get the redness. My radiation oncologist said he didn't think I would. I'm not sure why. I hope he's right.
Tomorrow is Monday, so back to rads! Also my husband is getting knee surgery tomorrow, so I get to baby him for a week or so.
Deb
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Hi, again, everyone. Just going back over posts from the last few days. Dancemom, Embmom, Texan Cupig & Sharpie, thanks particularly for your posts. Is this the worst emotional rollercoaster we're on or what? I have felt so miserable since starting radiation a week ago, and I've only got 16 to do, with 5 down now. I don't know what it is except I'm sick of this whole blasted thing, too. If I didn't have a sense of humor, I'd be in a rubber room by now.
Feeling desperate, I went to visit an old friend yesterday who lives about an hour away. My dog and I rode up in the car with the stereo turned up on a beautiful day. When we got there, my girlfriend took me to a street festival, where we saw another old friend of ours. Then we went to this great women's clothing store for some serious retail therapy. I had on this wonderful tanktop/camisole I just bought with my new prosthesis in the pocket, and everything I tried on looked great! So, I did some damage there. Then, we all went out to dinner, drank some wine, had a feast. It was just what I needed. Even my dog was thrilled because he got leftover steak for dinner!
Tonight, thinking about resuming radiation tomorrow, I'm down in the dumps again. I would think I were totally nuts without reading all of your posts. Thanks for being there. Good luck to all of us.
Kathi
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Hi Everyone: All your news and ideas continue to be of great help to me. I'm going to stock up on the suggestions lotions this week before rads start. My last chemo was 7/29 and I'm going hatless! I kind of like it. It fell out dark brown and coming back salt & pepper but I actually get a lot of compliments on it. It's long enough that it needs to be combed after a shower or it sticks out by my ears! My brows are growing back. I think my lashes still need some time.
Nancy
That's horrible news about work. Makes me appreciate the fact that I have not gone back. I feel guilty about it but I worked way too hard during chemo. I'm not recuperated enough from surgery. I hope your boss will have a change of heart and get you some help. Finally, I found a wonderful book that you all might enjoy. It touches on so many things we talk about, work, emotions, etc. It is titled "After Breast Cancer - A Common-Sense Guide to Life After Treatment". It's written by Hester Hill Schnipper, LLCSW, a oncology social worker who battled and won two rounds with breast cancer. Her husband is a medical oncolgist. Her words justified some of my feelings. I think the book will be even a better resource once the treatments are over.
Have a great week. Praying for you all and counting on you to not run away at the end of the month when I start my rads and have zillions of questions. You will probably be thinking "Jane, we have already answered that question" and I will blaim my chemo brain. I'm going to milk chemo brain as long as I can.
Jane
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Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful, recuperative weekend. I took it easy on Saturday, and went apple picking on Sunday. Well, I only picked a couple of apples, but my daughter and nephew picked a huge bag for each family. The weather was perfect, if a tad warm. And the orchard was high on a large hillside/small mountain so we had a gorgeous view of the valleys around us. The adults mostly sat, ate and drank, and admired the view.
Now I have to get out my apple pie recipe and make a few. I must have enough for six pies, easily. I was tired when we got home but it was worth it.
Rad #15 today...halfway though. Good luck to those just starting, and here's to "no reactions" to those already underway.
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Nancy,
I am thinking about making apple pie this weekend- no place to pick the apples here - but my 18 year old daughter is coming home for the weekend (shes a college freshman) and she LOVES apple pie- plus it will probably make my hair grow since I like it too.
Anyone on here doing any kind of supplment during radiation or planning to take them once you are finished? I am researching a lot on diet/nutrition trying to decide exactly what approach I want to take once treatment is finished????
Kristy
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midsum I never really did find out yet what the bolus is. I get mon,wed and friday. They put this yellow bubble wrap looking mat on top of my chest, and then I think I get a bigger dose than on the other days. Today was #8, and so far my skin is fine. I use the cream they gave me aloe gel 100 0/0. I was really freaked out in the beginning-thinking about how I was being fried, feeling like I was on an alien spaceship Etc. But I have relaxed alot. The technicians at my hospital, and the nurses and doctors are so friendly and nice. Now I lay there and think of good things. The ceiling is wallpapered like the night sky, so mostly I think of what its like to really be on the top of some mt. looking at the real milky way.
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Hi y'all! Um, my weekend was okay?!? I do have to say that I got a BIG kick out of Kathi's website with the glowing boob!
I laughed really hard when I saw that card with the kitten; you made my day, Kathi!!! I'm dealing with the radiation thing, but I STILL don't want to do it! I went for my 3rd one this morning, and I found out what the bolus is for, tomatojuice! It's kind of like a 2nd skin for someone like me, who doesn't have a breast, at least that's what the tech said. It's kind of like protection for my lung, or else my lung would get zapped!! They'll be using that on me every other treatment.
Other than all this radiation stuff, I've been having issues with my brother...I think he's more worried about his addiction (to pot) than my well being? Needless to say, my friend that works at the front desk of where I'm staying, she chewed him out yesterday! AND, needless to say, I felt like I was in an awkward position because I hadn't talked with him about his priorities. But, I'm kind of relieved that my friend did the talking?!?
NancyD...are you taking orders for fresh apple pies?
I wish I could be back home to go berry picking and goose hunting! It seems like more snow is gathering on the mountaintops here. I asked my brother if he thinks we'll be here when the first snow hits...he thinks we'll be...YEESH!!! I don't mind the cold, but the snow I could deal without!
Anyway, I hope y'all have a great week, and I hope we can all get through this ordeal together?!? Thanks again for letting me dump!
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They are also using the BOLUS on me for every treatment--the one they use is like a very thin piece of brass fabric. The way they explained it to me is that it will bring the rads closer to the surface so that in my case it will fry more of the skin that the cancer had spread to. I am on 15 out of 30 and barely notice any difference as yet. I am starting to notice the fatigue tho. Good luck!
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well another day down...11 to go for me!
I have decided to take it a day at a time, otherwise I dont know how I could manage the drive to work (1.5 hrs) and then to Rads (1.0) each day. Its another half hour to get home, but that's easy.
How does everyone handle putting the meds on during work? I use the SilverDene in the morning, then the pads after Rads and again at night. Today I steathily went into ladies room and hid in the handicapped stall (its bigger than the others) and put on the SilverDene. Geez, felt like the Maxwell Smart of Get Smart tv show, but the skin gets dried out and tight without something.
oh well. jan - thanks for the book title...I will do a search on Amazon.
hope you are each having a good day.
Emily
xxx -
My calendula ointment is in a vaseline-like base. I put it on after my 5:30 am shower. When I go to my rads appt at 4:15 pm, they have trouble marking me up because my skin is still oily from it. Even now, at 7:15 pm, it's oily to the touch. I haven't reapplied it all day! But I will put more on tonight to keep it soft.
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Kristy,
I was told I could continue using my multivitamin with added vitamin D, Omega 3 and 6 fish oil, and glucosomine.
First treatment went okay today. Found out I'll been done Oct. 30 so I think that's 30 treatments in all.
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Good Evening All ~
Even though I don't write much - I'm here and reading everyone's post.
Ha! Maxwell Smart
Me too !! 
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Hi everyone,
Glad to hear you all are doing so well with the tx.
Roxi - they will go by fast. I had my 22nd tx on the 22nd of September. That was kind of fun. I didn't think they would go by quickly back when I was on #2, but they have.
Emily - is the Silverdene a prescription? I'm using the Miaderm but have areas more irritated under my breast and along my SNB scar and think I need something stronger. I see my onc tomorrow so we'll see what he says.
Good luck to everyone else this week.
Julie
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Hi All
I had my first radiation treatment yesterday,,about an hour after I finished I got really sick..I couldn't stop vomiting..has anyone had this..I have had every side effect possible through this ordeal..was just in the hospital last week..sugar went up to 331,,livewr is acting up..pneumonia..you name it and it happened...my mother in law said I looked like humpty dumpty..I had so much fluid...please help me to know if the vomiting is normal..stayed in bed the rest of the day ...I am not sure if I want to go through anymore....
Thanks
Pat
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Pat, I would call the rad onc and let them know about the voimiting. I don't think it's a usual s/e, but one of those on the list can "sometimes" happen. I'd especially let them know that it's been more than just once. I've had a little regurgitation that's more like acid reflux, but slightly stronger, and not more than once.
#16 today. My chest is red and I'm feeling tired. And it's only 9 am.
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Thanks Nancy
I did put a call into the rad onc...waiting for a call back...I am not going for a treatment today unless they can do something about this..as I said I have been through every s/e possible..my onc said I am one for the books..this is nuts..
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Pat,
Yesterday was my first too. I felt weird, a little urpy, but throught it was my dinner. Hope your doctor calls back soon.
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They did call back..they said it wasn't the radiation..I called my onc also and they said that shouldn't have happened from the rads..I am also on prednisone and that migh tbe causing it..whatever is causing it it stinks...
Roxi. when you elt urpy did you actually throw up..
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