MAY 2009 Rads

Hi everyone.  Hope all of my LA sisters are doing okay after the shake!

Treatment 5 was fine - the nurse took a blood draw to check all of my levels and I let them know that I saw the dermatologist today for my scalp problem, it is folliculitis, so they have me on antibiotics 3x a day plus an antibiotic foam for my head.  Hopefully it will clear up soon, this is annoying!!

Talked with the rad techs - found out that my last 7 treatments will be the "boost", which will provide up-close treatment to the scar tissue only, not really penetrate the breast, just to make sure they get all of the suckers.  Guess I'll get measured for that sometime next week, when I am officially half way through.  So far so good, just using aloe vera immediately after treatment and then again before bed, to keep it moisturized.

Getting a good rain here in parched, overcooked south florida- it appears rainy season has finally started, which means now the grass and all of my plants and flowers will stop broiling and start growing again.

Have a good night, everyone!

had my first tomotherapy radiation treatment today. my oncologist told me that for general breast cancer treatment, the conventional linear accelerators are fine for treatment, but for chest wall tumors like mine, tomotherapy is much more precise. he said that all his patients, no matter what kind of breast cancer tumor, get tomotherapy radiation, but other oncologists at the hospital still use the linera accelerator for general treatment.  i had 4.5 minutes of radiation.

the nurse told me no deodorant at all, even if it's Tom's or "natural" deodorant, for the entire 7 weeks. that seems absurd! i'll have to check with my oncologist about that. she said no lotion prior to 2 hours before treatment. they gave me samples of Aquaphor lotion, but said that it's greasy and i might prefer aloe gel 100% clear. she said no shaving for 7 weeks. 

both the onc and the nurses said they didn't recommend swimming at all this summer during treatment or after for at least a month because of chance of infection and irritation. 

they put a long warm blanket over me, i listened to the dave matthews music they had playing in the room, i had the CT scan and then the radiation. i asked about the CT scan before each treatment, and the oncologist said the amount of radiation in the daily CT scan is factored into the dosage calculation; it is not additional radiation. that was a relief. there are no markings done with tomotherapy - only the three tattoos i had during my mapping session. i was in and out in 15 minutes. he said i may have less than 35 treatments, depending on how my skin holds up.

Hi Ladies...

I had #3 this afternoon...and so far no heat...other than the weather...LOL

Hope all is well with our May Rad Ladies....

Hey All:

Today was my first zap @ radiation/ very easy, quick & uneventful./hope it stays that way.

What a relief from chemo sessions. I still have my port, with no mention of removal anytime soon.

Hmmmm... maybe doc thinks i might need more chemo/PLease NOOOOOOOOO/ say it aint so.

I am about three weeks outta chemo but still feel lousy and my emotions are off the chart. Cry on a daily basis .... is this normal.. plus no apppetite & naseuous.

Hi.  I talk to my second "opinion" today.  I guess what has happened in terms of my tx is pretty typical.  If I had know there was a remote chance of rads, however, I would have changed my reconstruction---I think .  I just hope and pray the radiation doesn't destroy my tissue expander.  A very nice person on the board sent me a recent study that had a more positive outlook for rad tx of patients with TEs.  That being said, I have my sim tomorrow and if all goes well will start rads probably next Tuesday.  25 or 28 zaps. 

I love those good omen stories.  Keep em coming!!!!!!!!!! 

Good morning!

 To all in CA so sorry about your scary shaky day. So glad to hear you are all fine.

Day one down, and boy did it take forever. They had to take x-rays and then find the doctor to make sure I was all lined up all this took about 40 minutes- arms overhead don't forget! When they said I could put my arms down, I thought I'd need some help. I guess Mondays are my day to see the doctor so more time waiting... The nurse seemed pleased that I wasn't "pink" but when I asked the doctor if it was in my head that my breast felt, well warm, she just looked at me and said no it's not in your head. Then she said something about my eye which had started to feel a little sore while I was laying on the table. Doctor said "put hot compresses on it" I'm nodding and saying okay, when I get back to the changing room I can see this large stye on my left eye. Gee thanks, red and swollen is very attractive on an eyelashes eye. Not much better today, but not worse, so maybe it is better?? 

 They gave me some cream , Jeans cream, and actually gave me two and acted like it was gold and contraband, and I should cherish it, but use it too! No rads next Monday because of the holiday weekend. Funny how they can call a holiday, can I do that too?? ha ha

It's so encouraging to hear that everyone is doing okay. My doctor said about week two people feel tired, but she said it's really not radiation tired but rather we are feeling better now that we aren't doing chemo and overdue and then think we are tired from the radiation. I'm already starting to feel stronger and it is great to feel close to my old self  again. I'm sure I will overdue, but I overdid it often before all this so nothing new.

  We can do this!

Hi, all.  Zap #10 for me today.  Doing OK, though definitely feeling tired in the late afternoons/evenings.

Ivorymom -- I'm also having that swollen, heavy feeling in the breast being treated.  Reminds me of when my milk came in when my boys were born!  I asked my rad onc about it this morning, and she said it's inflammation, and a common side effect.  I'm also starting to itch a bit -- again like I did when my milk came in.

So strange these parallels between pregnancy/nursing and this cancer -- being tired, feeling swollen-breasted, watching closely what I'm eating/drinking, lots of doctors' appointments. But of course such enormous differences between the two states, too, if not polar opposites. 

Feeling philosophical today, as you see!  Hope everybody is hanging in there!

Genia, hope it doesn't get any pinker or more burned for you.  I'm glad you are several treatments ahead, it's great you can let us know what we are in for!

Hi all,

Bold,  you are so funny.  Shake and bake.  I guess that's what it is when you're getting rads in California right now.

I'm still waiting for everyone to "plan" my radiation treatment.  I'm waiting impatiently.  But, I am starting to take care of myself.  Working on diet and exercise.  I love those good omen stories.

Keep them coming.

Lisa, thanks for sharing that. So much of this disease is all about numbers and statistics, isn't it? And, as you said, going on blind faith. We like things we can control -- and this ain't it!

I had treatment #9 today, and other than being a little sore from the TE tightening up (doc said it was scar tissue forming, but not to worry because it will be fixed during reconstruction), I'm doing okay.

My arm has a slight case of LE, and I've got an appointment next week to see about that. All in all, I'm feeling much more positive about my ability to get back to my life again! Long time, no see: the life I knew about a year ago!

Hi everyone!  I saw my medical oncologist today and got my ocnotype test results.  Recurrence Score was 12.  No Chemo!  Yea!   I am so relieved.   I go back tomorrow to get my simulation markings put back on and start radiation treatment on Wednesday.  So I'm back on the May Rads Group. Hope everyone is doing well.

Hi everyone,

Today was #15 for me, 13 more to go which means I'll finish on June 8th.  So far, SE's are minimal -- a little discomfort, some redness and a mild rash, along with a mild sore throat that the nurse said is very common.  Today I saw the LE therapist and was measured for a compression glove and sleeve.  I'm not looking forward to wearing those during the summer, but apparently LE in the hand is very tricky to treat and the sleeve and glove should help. 

Congrats to everyone who has finished or is nearing the finish line with their rads!!!

Bonnie

Well, the second opinion said radiation.....sigh.  The PS said he is worried about how it will affect the TE, and he will do what he can to get the scar tissue out when I go for the exchange.  I am pretty bummed about it.  I hope and pray I won't have to go thru a bunch of surgeries to get my foob and boob up to perk!!!  I will have my simulation tomorrow and then i am guessing I will start in earnest next week on Tuesday.  so I am off to get the aloe gel and the aquaphor.  How often do I put the stuff on?  AND do stretches help cut down on the compression of the TEs????

Cruise: can you share some of your heat?? Was 36 degrees here this morning. 

BOLD: I have been going through the environmental hazard list too -- lifestyle changes, esp stress reduction and regular exercise are going to be important for our survival.   

CHER07 -- one down! you are on your way.  I am 5 weeks out from chemo - hope to get my port out on Friday.  My med onc originally suggested keeping it in indefinately... just in case.. then he said 6 months... we settled on 6 weeks .  It feels like 2 of the corners are starting to erode through the skin -- I have been more active I think it is moving around in there... time to go.. I have things to do... garden, golf, strength train.    I think your emotional roller coaster is normal --  think we can expect this for a while. 

I have 9 done and 21 to go.  My bangle idea - start with 30 and give one away with each tx to someone who has helped me through this ---- well... I have managed to break anywhere from 1-3 a day, so I converted to Indian bead bracklets.   it has been wonderful to give them away each day -- a moment of gratitude each day is good for the soul.

I drove myself today - a "sing on the top of my lungs" day -- whoa - good to be alone for that!! Friends are driving tomorrow - a little shopping and at least one greenhouse stop.. will be nice. 

Hope you are all doing well!