APRIL Rads Anyone?

Hello, ladies~!   My first rad was march 30th, total of 30..   25more to go!~!   It starting to sore and tired but not to bad compare to chemo..  I am glad I can join this group and nice to meet you all~!

I just got back from my 4th visit.  I'm getting 28, so 1/7th of the way through!  I feel muscle tightness and my skin feels tight, though the rad onc says it is too early for that.  Maybe it is just the stretch each day.

I asked my rad onc why the variances in number of sessions.  She said for those people that had a lump, they get 25 + 5 boost = 30.  For people over 50 or had chemo, they get 3 extra (10%), as they get less per dose.  I think for people that got chemo, they also get the 10% more for 33 doses.  For people, like me, that got a mastectomy, I don't get the boosts (she said I had a "surgical boost" at removing everything), but since I have had chemo, I get the lower dose, but more doses (10% more, so 28 doses).  Looking at various folks schedules, it seems to add up for the most part.  Bonnie's is the only one where it didn't add, since it seems like she had the mast.

For the bolus, it is essentially a warm towel to simulate tissue.  Radiation, she said, doesn't work on air versus tissue, but rather tissue versus tissue.  To get the skin, they put something over the skin to simulate tissue, so that the radiation gets the skin.  She also said, I will get red.  She looks for some redness (someone asked that question earlier).  She said if it doesn't get red, then it must not be treated, so there must be an equipment issue.  How red, blistered, etc, depends on how well you took care of your skin when you were younger.

I don't want to say "only", but I'm only getting 25 rads... hmmm.

Oh please do not let rads hurt the taste buds... my coffee still tastes like salt!

Elaine-Do they put one of those "bolus" (plastic) over you ?  I think that will make you more tender.

Any of you ladies who have started have tissue expanders in?  I'm still sore from my last fill, they are pressing on my ribs so I can't imagine any more soreness on top of this... ugh.

Susan13 - I have a tissue expander, and it does hurt.  It wasn't hurting before I began this, so I'm not sure if it is from the rads or from the stretching of having to be in that same position for a bit.  The rad onc says it is too soon for the pain to be from the rads.  BTW, for me the bolus isn't plastic, but rather a warm, wet towel. 

Hey-

Had #2 today with 28 to go.  4 areas treated, no bolus,

Patoo- I also noticed my hands were tingling about 4 hours after treatment today.  Wasn't expecting that at all. 

I read a great book by Jane Plant (a scientist from Britain- who had breast cancer and then 5 reoccurences) called "Your Life in your hands". She  has some great simple advice. Lots of greens, no dairy. Eat organic eggs one per day: they contain amino acids-cysteinelike chemicals which are also used in antiradiation pills- so can protect you somewhat. Icelandic kelp pills and seaweed do the same thing. Also garlic, onions ,leeks and chives have the same chemicals.  She drank fennel juice mixed 50/50 with green apples during chemo and never lost her hair- (those she persuaded to do the same also kept theirs) Those who took folic acid pills lost theirs.   She also mentioned best not to use soap just water on affected area and a low power shower. 

Maybe this doesn't belong in this area, but I figure I will try anything that has worked well for others.

Jane_M- Congrats on your last treatment !

Jane, hmmm, I don't know what's up, then.  Your diagnosis is very sinilar to mine, so I'm not sure why the difference in rads.   I always like to understand everything to make sure I'm getting the right treatment.  Now, you have me wondering....

kjbell - I think things taste differently too. I'm getting the bolus every day.  So strange the differences.

Hi. I am new to online support groups. I completed 4 doses of AC followed by 12 weekly of Taxol

on March 16th. I think I just put my blinders on and plowed through chemo. It was not easy for me.

I developed a terrible rash on my hands during Taxol. Also several of my nails were painful and disclolored. I had to have the nail on my right middle finger removed by a surgeon on Friday as the nail bed was infected.

I will have mapping done on April 29th and start radiation on April 20th. I think I will feel better talking to others going through this as my friends just say "oh, that should not be too bad". They do not understand, as much as they care.

correction...I will have mapping done on April 9th, not 29th. I will start rads on April 20th, total of 33.

Jane - did you get any tattoo's near the supraclavicular area?  Do they radiate below it or right at the collarbone?  I realized the other day after my SIM that there are no marks near that area, but I remember my rad onc saying that I will have the supra. area radiated.  Just wondering.

I'm so scared that my expander on the radiated side is going to bust or something, it's so darn tight already.

Love all the information here! Thanks, Colleen!

I keep my eyes closed and count... to get me through each zap. I've had 10 rads, and feel a little sore under my arm.

Hugs!

Hi Ladies,

I will have 33 tx's

My mapping was finished on Monday, so I had my first tx yesterday.  Probably my imagination, but the radiated area felt "warm" last night.  I don't have the claustraphobia, but it is weird that the techs just scurry from the room.   They sure don't want what I'm getting!  Then there is this buzzing sound, and the machine makes some noises.  The techs are nice, and it is much better than chemo. 

Only have 1 complaint.....the lady who is treated before me reeks of cat urine.  They have 2 lockers in the changing room.  I had to put my clothes in that locker, because the other was in use.  My clothes stunk (is that a word?) afterwards.  YAK!!!!  And that is not "chemo nose"!  I may end up locking my purse in my desk at work, and finding someplace in the dressing room to hide my clothes.  Sorry to sound so weird, but it really is gross!

I go back to work on Monday!  I haven't worked since DX in Sept.  Hospital where I have rads is 1/4 mile down the road from work, and my appointment is 12:15.  Works out perfectly with my lunch hour.

BTW....before I lost my eyebrows, I still had to fill them in, sparse in spots.  I used Maybelline eyebrow pencil for years, and it worked well for me.  Now I use it and in a few hours, it's gone.  I have a few hairs for each eyeborw on the inner aspect of each eye.  Pretty freaky looking!  So I went to Ulta 3 yesterday, and worked with the cosmetician.  She used "Anastasia Brow Powder Duo" with an angled brush with a "Brow Fix" pencil.  I still have eyebrows!  woo hoo!  Expensive tho....those 2 items and a cheap angled brush came to $51.00. 

My eyes continue to tear and water constantly from the Taxotere, so I can't wear any eye makeup for now.  My eyelids and the corners of my eyes are chapped from constantly either being wet or having a tissue pressed to them.  I use Chapstick at night on those areas and it seems to work well.

Well, time to shower and get ready to go.  Today I get the bolus blanket.  No wig or make-up today, except eyebrows and a scarf.  Just a quick in and out and home for me.

Hugs to all ~ Carol

Finished nr 3 today.  And to Berrypatch- I had that same warm sensation the first night too.-don't notice it now.  I inquired about the bolus...its for those who have had a masectomy for it allows them to radiate the chest wall much better.  Those of us who had a lump are getting hit more for the breast tissue.

Is anyone taking Arimidex?

I ordered some of the my girls radiation cream from radiant life- that got high marks from the March group-(haven't received yet)  and also purchased an aloe plant- so you are not applying  the chemicals of the storebought ones.