APRIL Rads Anyone?

Britt · May 2009

Thanks, everyone, for your comisseration re my Stellar Rads Team. But I must admit my rads onco is the only decent one out of the bunch - at least he has a personality!

Lainey64 · May 2009

Hi gals! 2 more rads to go..... I can't believe it. Tomorrow will be the big day! I'm planning a happy hour after work on Friday with my friends at work to celebrate. I can't wait!

Have a great day everyone!

BrandonMom · May 2009

kjbell - High five! It feels good to be done!

Lainey64 - Cheering you in from the finishing line!! You can do it!! It feels so good to be done!

Anonymous · May 2009

Eadsia, See if this comes through. If not I can try and PM it to you (or bring it since you are my roomie!)

Only received this recently and have not tried any. Let me know if you want it for Beef and Pork as I have that as well.

susan13 · May 2009

Elaine-Happy Birthday! What a great week for you! Happy Hour sounds just like a good thing to do!

17 down, 8 to go, and man am I starting to beet red, and sore. Oh skin please hold up another 8 days, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!

Lainey64 · May 2009

Susan, thanks!!! Your skin will hold up, don't worry. You're doing so good so far. There were a couple of days when mine felt really sore but it didn't seem to last long. Just keep putting aloe vera gel on. That works really well for me.

Yum, those recipes looks really good!!!!

eadsla · May 2009

Patoo! Whoa, that list is going to keep me fed for a long time. Thanks for that! I have to save this page no on my browser.

And Yay! I noticed that we were going to be roommies. How awesome is THAT!

Okay, I'm off for another exciting installment of rads. I'll check in later today...hopefully after I get the new crockpot...!

EleanorJ · May 2009

Elaine, look at that hair What a great week for you, birthday & last rads. Hooray

Today was #21 out of 33. I'm supposed to have a scan between my 25 rads & 8 boost. I'll check with my onc if I can have that scan done at the same time as #25, otherwise my last rad will be on a Monday. I know, it's silly but I'd like to be done that Friday and celebrate, plus they're having a Relay for life on the 29th here and it would be a great way to end this nightmare.

Anonymous · May 2009

I'M DONE!!!

Jane_M · May 2009

Whoo Hoo, Robin!

shan1171 · May 2009

okay.........I'm losing count, number 17? Yeah, that's it. Eleven more to go!

Lainey, kj, beth - Little man is doing great.........the weekend was rough, but he's much better. No more snoring.

beth, I definitely hear you on the sick man thing, women stop for nothing.........not even CANCER!

Lainey, I'm jealous. My hair is still sadly lacking. In fact........you guys are gonna laugh at my crazy ass, BUT I shaved it when I showered the other night. I know, I know, I'm nuts! I just had this odd hair..........fuzz with a few stray longer hairs in there. Looked like something I would imagine on a troll's ass. Thought, what the hay, the hair on my legs is growing like wildfire since I shaved it, so...............ha! I now have a VERY fine mist of fuzz on my head that you can't see, but can feel. I'm kinda resigned to going back to work in a month still pretty much bald. Oh, well, the guys will get a kick out of it. Maybe it will keep them from being so fixated on my concrete foobies. MEN!

Skin is still holding up well, fatigue not really a problem (I mowed the lawn, trimmed trees, vacuumed, Lord knows what else today)! My feet are killing me, though! I may crash in a few days, but, so far so good. I think not working through treatment has really helped, I don't know how you girls are managing the daily grind on top of treatment.

Good night, all...........off to do my nightly movie in bed.

Lainey64 · May 2009

Robin - Way to go!!!!!

Shan - I'm so glad to hear that your little man is feeling better! You know what's funny, when I get really tired, my feet seem to ache the most. Weird! Let us know if your hair starts growing faster now that you've shaved it. I was thinking about doing the same thing when all I had was fuzzies but it finally picked up on its own.

eadsla · May 2009

Way to go Robin! Its the greatest thing to read of ANOTHER person completing rads!

Shan--Also great to read that your son is feeling better...love the photo, btw. From what it sounds like from you, the key to dealing with the rads fatigue is activity. I've noticed for me that getting out of bed seems like such an effort, but once I'm out of the house getting tx and being around others, my energy level feels pretty normal.

I'm letting my hair grow, fuzzy and all for now. I figure that once it gets long enough where I can have evened out I'll just do that. I am just enjoying seeing my head covered with hair again and seeing a defined hairline that I want to enjoy that for awhile. And yeah...the leg hair grows really fast.

Caroline--Ending rads with a Relay for Life is so fitting and great! I hope it times out for you.

Catherine

EleanorJ · May 2009

My aunt gave me a sample of Miaderm. Has anyone tried that yet?

Anonymous · May 2009

Every time I went to one of my 33 radiation appointments, I would receive 10 blasts each time, for a total of 330 blasts of radiation. Each time I went to one of my 6 boost appointments, I would receive 3 blasts, for a total of 18 blasts of radiation.

Grand total? 348 blasts of radiation from the most powerful radiation beam in the State of Michigan.

We're awesome and mighty women!

Robin

DesertRider · May 2009

Wow, Robin - great going!

I finished the 28 rads today! and I have a question - I've read somewhere the the booster rads basically don't effect the long-tern outcome for women over 55. If I don't benefit that much - maybe I'll pass and not get the extra radiation in my body - anyone have thoughts about that - would really be interested!

and, yes, we are awesome mighty women, for sure!

Gail

kjbell · May 2009

Congrats Robin for crossing the finish line.

Lainey you are almost there too!

Catherine and Patoo-I too am going to Vegas. It should be a blast! Patoo-thanx for all those recipes. I love using my crock pot!

Shan-glad the little guy is feeling better!

Have a great day tomorrow ladies!

EleanorJ · May 2009

Robin, by blasts you mean how many times the machine zaps you in 1 session? That's interesting, I'm doing 33 as well, but so far each time I lay on that table, I get zapped 4 only times. I wish I knew what would make them decide on numbers & strength of rads.

Lainey64 · May 2009

During my regular treatments, I would lay there and they would do it 2x. Each time the machine made a long buzzing sound for about 20 secs. She'd come and change out the "thing" and then leave the room and it would buzz for another 20 secs. With the boosts, the machine is different and it's only one time - a longer buzz for about 30 secs. Today is my last one... yay!!

Yuck, I have to go to the endodontist today at 11 to have my root canal finished. I'm dreading it!!!! This root canal experience has been 10x worse than rads. No doubt about it!

Hi gals! Hope you all are doing good today.

susan13 · May 2009

Robin-Congrats!!

Elaine-Congrats!!

Shan-Great your little man is doing much better, and you sound like you are holding up pretty darn well yourself... mowing the lawn? you wonderman you! I think your hair might grow guicker now that you buzzed the fuzzies off.

Well I think the fatique hit me today. I'm nauseas (zofran doing nothing) and dizzy and just feelin like plain sh*t. My skin is itchy, red, and sore, and this morning the entire area peeled, and when I took a shower it stung like mad. The therapists wanted the nurse to look at my skin after treatment this morning, but when I was ready to leave she was not around, so I'll have her look at it tomorrow morning.

18 down, 7 more to go.

Sue

Anonymous · May 2009

Cebula...Yep...each time I went in, I got ten different "zaps", each ranging in length from 3 seconds to 10 seconds. For each boost, I got two 16 second "zaps", and one 3 second "zap".

I don't know why it was different, but I do feel like I should be an honorary member of the Super Hero League!

EleanorJ · May 2009

Robin, you should

#22 with 11 to go...

EleanorJ · May 2009

Oh and I did ask my oncologist about miaderm, well, the nurse, and she said it's good stuff, new so they don't know side effects to it yet but good stuff. She says I can't put it on in the morning before rads but than 3x/day after. I'm her guinae pig since she doesn't have much exprience with it, but my nipple is getting pretty dry and sensitive so it's worth a shot, still have 2.5 weeks to go. It's expensive, mine were free samples. www.miaderm.com

Anonymous · May 2009

Only 3 more - Yay! Congrats to those who have finished and to the rest of you the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter every day.

My 25 rads were done 2 x 20 secs and 1 x 5 secs then the machine moved to the other side and repeated to 6 zaps in all. The boosts are 1 x 30 seconds.

Just one really small spot under the breast that peeled and itches a little but it's not being zapped with the boosts so should heal easily. No other problems with the skin. Still a little fatigued but nothing I can handle.

Enjoy your evening my sisters.

caligrlof68 · May 2009

I've finished 18/33 treatments. My skin in my arm pit is very red-brown. I have freckles across what used to be my breast. So far no blistering or peeling or pain. Not sure how much longer my skin will hold up. Big Congrats to all those who are finished with rads. I can't wait to be there too!

kjbell · May 2009

I finished Monday and my skin is peeling in my arm pit. Nice pink skin under the radiation tan. I wonder if all the tan will eventually peel or fade away? Does anyone know?

eadsla · May 2009

Wow, you guys make me feel like I should be paying more attention when I'm getting the rads. I asked the techs how much each doasge was, but can't remember now what it was. Now I'll have to ask. I just assumed I was getting two hits as the machine wold buzz for a bit, then rotate as it shifted position and then buzzed again. For the boosts measuring, they used the same machine but put on an attachment to the front of the machine

kjbell--I know you're going to Vegas...I've seen you on the thread, silly. It's gonna be fun! also, about the tan peeling or fading away, you might want to ask the gals on the Feb or March rads forum. I think the effects would be the same as if you have a really bad sunburn. The color would fade eventually, but look at how long it takes to lose a tan line. That would be my guess.

7 days left. 2 regular than the 5 boosts next week. I've definitely got that red sqare effect, but so far, no pain or blistering. Hoping for the best, but knowing it can get a lot worse.

Have a relaxing night all!

Catherine

Robin--When you add up the numbers, it's pretty daunting what we go through.

shan1171 · May 2009

18 down, 10 to go.......still okay, a tad pink, nothing much.

I'm thrilled for all you girls at the finish line!

Catherine.......thanks! He is a cutey, he's definitely the best of me.

Sue - I think it's a throw back to my running days......."push through the pain"....ha! Being stubborn as a mule doesn't hurt. My sister keeps volunteering her poor hubby to do odd jobs for me, poor fella. I told her to quit, I was just fine. It's sweet, but I don't need no stinking man.........HA! We'll see how the fuzz goes...........so far, still looks pretty pitiful. I'd like to have at least a bit of cover before returning to work (that only gives me about a month or so). My office can get a bit warm and with these hot flashes wearing ANYTHING on my head is gonna suck. I hate you are still feeling so crappy. The skin issue sounds awful....definitely get someone to look at that. Radiation on top of peeling skin.......OUCH.

Lainey - I would rather be beat about the head and shoulders than go to the dentist. Bless your heart and good luck.........tell them to give you the "happy" gas. It's the least they can do!

One of my rad therapists told me today that they had a 40 yr old patient who was STILL laying in the tanning bed au naturel DURING the course of her radiation treatments. What the H? Somebody needs to smack that woman upside the head. Makes you wonder about some people. I just had to share that, it truly floored me.

Night all.....sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite

eadsla · May 2009

Shan----Arre you kidding about the tanning bed woman? It take all kinds, I guess. Who knows, maybe her skin is "condtioned" to it all...but it sure seems a bit mad to me.

Elaine--I hear you on the dental crap. Chemo did a number on my teeth. I had two wisdom teeth pulled just as I was starting rads along with a cleaning. Almost every tooth has something that needs to be done, so I'm doing the triage thing. The next thing up is a root canal, but I'm holding off on this until after I fully recuperate from rads. I highly recommend the sedative action although root canal is a different procedure than teeth pulling. Either way, I hope you get some good numbing.

Catherine

Lainey64 · May 2009

Goodmorning everyone! Well, I'm done. I was feeling really great yesterday when I walked out of there. My rads team gave me a little diploma. My boyfriend took me out to dinner last night for a double celebration - my bday and end of TX. It was a nice ending to my day. The endodontist appointment/root canal was horrific! I would go through 10 more rads rather than have to go through that again. But it's over thankfully! I woke up this morning more tired than usual and I'm ready for the weekend.

Kjbell, my rads doctor told me that the tan/redness should fade in about 3 to 4 weeks. We'll see!

Have a great day everyone! You all are almost there!

APRIL Rads Anyone?

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