APRIL Rads Anyone?

Bette

Sounds like what I experienced last week...though I was there three days in a row getting marked up. But they let me wash off the marker because I had the tatoos. Maybe you can ask them if you can draw something too?  : )

Today was a little better so I can only expect it will get better a little every day. I am sure the techs have experienced a wide range of responses...I was listening to a song, they play music in there, that I really liked, but I didn't feel like I could get up and dance lol  

Jane- Yikes...no wonder lawyers have a bad name...unbelieveable....

Susan and Linda-Let's hope our nails stay where they are supposed to. On our fingers! It amazes me that 1 month out of chemo this s/e is showing up! We have had enough pain.

Linda-is that your daughter? That picture is priceless!

Karen

Elaine-Sorry you had a rough nite.  I stopped taking anything, Ambien, Ativan, for a while and my sleep got worse, if that's even possible.  So last 2 nites I took ativan and I slept better, and only had a couple of hot flashes, opposed to 5 a nite.  But I feel the same way about not wanting to get dependent on taking something to help me sleep, but I was getting desperate.  Also, I was under the assumption that rads after your 3rd week or so can really exhaust you, therefore making you sleep better?  I was hoping for that. Have you ever tried Camomile tea?

Congrats on getting your port removed! I'm stuck with mine until radiation is all done. yuk.

Ladies,

Check this out to possible help minimize rad burns.  I started taking this last week in pill form, 500mg, it sure can't hurt to try, and it's all natural.  I came across it another thread on the boards.

http://www.supplementquality.com/efficacy/curcumin_cancer.html

Common Spice May Protect Skin During Radiation Therapy
Rochester NY, 7 October 2002
Copyright 2002 University of Rochester Medical Center, reprinted with permission.

Cancer researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have found that curcumin, a substance in curry long believed to have health benefits, seems to protect skin during radiation therapy. Doctors say that while further study is needed, cancer patients could consider eating foods with curry during their radiation treatment.

Curcumin, the substance that gives turmeric its yellow color, is a natural anti-inflammatory compound. Scientists have already shown that it can suppress tumor blood vessel growth. This process, called anti-angiogenesis, can strangle tumors. Now, James P. Wilmot Cancer Center researchers have discovered through a study of mice that curcumin may protect skin from the burns and blisters that often occur during radiation treatment.

"This is significant because skin damage is a real problem for patients undergoing radiation to treat their tumors. If a non-toxic, natural substance can help prevent this damage and enhance the effectiveness of our radiation, that's a winning situation," said Paul Okunieff, MD, chief of radiation oncology at the Wilmot Cancer Center. Scientists presented results of the pilot study at the 44th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology on Monday, October 7, in New Orleans.

The team of researchers, led by Ivan Ding, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology, studied the impact of various doses of curcumin on skin protection in mice given radiation therapy. The difference in skin damage was dramatic.

"There were far fewer blisters or burns on the mice who had been given curcumin," Ding said.

In the study, 200 mice were given three different doses of curcumin for five to seven days. On the fifth day, mice were given a single dose of radiation and scientists waited 20 days to assess skin damage. The mice who received curcumin had minimal skin damage caused by radiation. Scientists also found the substance suppresses development of new cells in the area of tumor, thus furthering the effectiveness of radiation.

While doctors are not ready to say that curcumin is the answer to preventing skin damage, researchers believe the results demonstrate the need for more extensive study.

Researchers plan further scrutiny of curcumin and combinations with other anti-inflammatory compounds to determine what could be the best way to prevent skin damage, Ding said.

"Nearly all cancer patients who get radiation treatment experience some form of skin damage -- from mild sunburn all the way to blisters -- that is painful for many," Okunieff said. "If we can find a simple way to help prevent that, it would make treatment a bit easier."

darn...... oh well... i tried!

hey patto... where in NJ r u?

My rads onc said that it's fine for me to be taking curcumin, Omega 3's, Vits C, E, & A, as well as a multivitamin.

Well I am finally healed from my mastectomy(Feb 25) and ready to start rads. I went today for my CT sim and sharpie markers. I go monday for my first treatment. I am so glad to be starting so that I can soon be finishing.....

Just started my first session today, found out I have more rads than anticipated as they are adding boosters, wasnt aware so the extention of time had me in tears...bah wish they would at least warn you. I feel sorry for the poor student that had to break it to me.

Oh my caligrlof68 I was staring at the ceiling fighting back the tears...I too had to suck it up and stop myslef from sobbing...I did the chemo too and two surgeries and today i was falling to pieces..what the heck??

Busy...I am not nervous...just feel like i've had ENOUGH....i need a good strong shoulder to support me for a while...and just need so badly to let it go. All of this cancer shit is starting to eat at me. UGH...just need to vent for a little while i guess

Stacy 

Welcome Caligirl and scarp! Many of us have had the same meltdowns before this new adventure.

We can all relate- and you are among friends and don't have to go it alone.  As I mentioned earlier- I read in a traditional chinese medicine book-  its better to think of it as the moon shining- so not quite as bright and that you are under a protective layer of water. One thing I wish I had known was to really keep your skin well moisturized before treatments begins. Drink lots of water too- you will be getting dehydrated. Garlic and eating an organic egg a day are good (they both have anti-radiation enzymes) I just started drinking Essiac tea which is recommended for both chemo and radiation. Tastes nasty though. made of 8 herbs.

Today was 8 down and 22 to go. I am starting to get a little sleepy now afterwards.  I try to walk 10-15 mins. before getting in the car and driving the hour home. Yesterday when I was about 20 mins from my house I found it hard to keep my eyes open. Thought I might have to pull off the road.  Luckily I had someone else drive today.

Has anyone else experienced drier eyes or mouth sores?  I don't know if its just that I am getting nervous about my son and biting my cheeks at night?  My son is being deployed in 2 weeks for Ft. Bennington (?) in GA and then it will be on to Afghanistan. Hes in the guards and was so depressed to get the news.  He's 21 and things were going good with his girlfriend and his job. He's a big snowboarder and has been having trouble with his knee, so maybe that will be taken into account.

Another simulation tomorrow. I wonder what color Sharpie they will use this time? Yesterday was blue. They are extending the field of radiation, so I guess there will be even more marks.

I'm so glad I read somewhere on this board to wear old clothes so the marker doesn't rub off and ruin them. Some definitely got on my camisole the first time, but it was a cheap one from Old Navy that I had purchased specifically for rads.

You are right Patoo. Rads is the light at the end of the tunnel. Hoping to start journey on Friday.

Bette 

Bettielou- wish i thought to wear old stuff.  i had on a new white shirt and new bra and now they are ruined.  off for #2

Hello!  What facinating women I'm reading about on these pages.  And there's a wealth of knowledge combined here about this dreaded health issue.  That's what I choose to call it, a "health issue".  I see my Oncologist tomorrow to map out treatment, the lumpectomy was performed April 3.  My diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma, high grade,3/3 basal type.  Sentinel node clear.  Surgery was non eventful; so I'll consider myself lucky if I get thru the rads or chemo with no adverse reaction.  

This site is where I've learned almost everything I didn't want to know about b/c, but I go here for answers, because the info on this site is gold! baby, gold!  

Eleanor Roosevelt said it right:  "Women are like tea bags.  We don't know how strong we are until we're thrown into hot water."

God Bless all the brave women here, and I hope that includes me.

ThankYou, Ellen