MAY 2009 Rads

what is bolus?

chevlev;  My onc told me the taxotere is metabolized 21 days after the last dose and that i would pretty much feel like I did pre-chemo at 4 weeks out.  i am 5 weeks out and feel really good- still have a little neuropathy in feet and hands ( he said that would take a while to resolve) an overall fluid retiention (due to the steroids).  He gave my a diuretic to help the fluid retiention - it is working.  Other than waiting for hair, I do feel pretty much back to normal.

11 done 19 to go.  I am a little pink in the evening, but it is more tan by morning time - using aloe and vaseline intensive care.     Have drivers yesterday, today and tomorrow --- yack yack yack --- time is going by quickly.  It is a little hectic to try and accomplish 8 hours of work in 6 hours before I dash out the door..... busy is good!    And everyone at work is helpful and supportive.

Had my chest x-ray and labs yesterday to get my port out tomorrow... YEEHAA!!!   And for the first time in months my labwork is 100% normal!!!!

Hope you are all doing well... 

#6 Down and #24 to go, last five will include the "boost" to high risk areas. 

americanpin - I sent you a PM about Bolus, I asked the same question of my Rad Techs.

Guess being sleepy may have been more related to staying up late and watching Sex and the City re-runs.  I'm off to a healing flower ceremony with one of our fellow posters!  Best to all!

ivorymom - we never get gowns at the hospital here in reno (renown). we get pillow cases! there are hundreds of them stacked up in the changing room. since i have a bilateral mastectomy and i'm not shy, i don't care. but if i still had my large breasts, this would annoy me!!

bold - i'm also totally bummed out about no swimming. it's my very favorite sport and i usually swim for hours every day in the summer. but it makes sense to me - think about how tender our skin will be during radiation and susceptible to infection. my onc said the chlorine would be especially bad for the skin.

4 down! 

Kathy - I agree with you - I am 5 weeks out from last chemo, and with the exception of a little numbness in my fingertips, I pretty much feel great (especially now that the scalp infection is clearing up and I don't look like a mutant).  I think I look a little swollen from the steroids, or maybe it's just that my face is rounder than I thought and all of my hair made it look not as round.

8 down, 17 to go!  Been just feeling a little swollen in the evenings at the treatment site, not too bad, and a little warm.  Aloe is working great.  The onc nurse who examined me yesterday said that because I'm not very large breasted (I always thought I was, but I guess from what she sees, I'm not, she called me "tiny" - something that usually isn't associated with my boobs!), I may not see the really radical side effects (I hope not!), just like Meg mentioned.  I too am free of treatment on Monday, the hospital is open, but they closed the rad onc department and some of the other treatment centers, I guess it's not a "critical" area to remain open.  Was wondering about that.  Oh well, pushes treatments back by a day, but it's okay.

Have the day off today (it's my official paid Memorial Day holiday, because next week is my furlough week and I can't claim unemployment if I am getting paid), so my best friend is picking me up in a bit and we're off to the outlet mall, some lunch and she is insisting on driving me to treatment, since we'll be out and about and there's no reason to rush me back.  She is such a wonderful friend, took me to my last chemo, calls frequently to check on me (her mother died of bc over 20 years ago after a long fight, so it's something that is really close to her heart), and I couldn't ask for a better friend.  She's getting a very nice lunch today on me!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

chelev - our radiation dept is also closed for memorial day. i'd much rather have it on holidays and get it over with! 

i have treatment #5 today. so far no reddening of the skin. i'm applying aquaphor after treatment and again at night. 

Hi everyone,

Today will be #18 for me, with just 10 more treatments to go.  So far, radiation has been much easier than chemo and I hope that all of you have minimal SEs too.  SEs for me so far -- a mild rash on my chest that is expected to go away after rads; fatigue that comes and goes; a mild sore throat from rads to subclavical and axillary nodes.  My skin is a little pink and is starting to feel tight, but it doesn't hurt at this point.  I also have mild lymphedema in my left arm and hand that started before rads, and am seeing an LE therapist every week and doing exercises every day. 

No rads on Monday -- YEAH!!  The 3 day reprieve will be great! 

Hugs to everyone,

Bonnie

hi everyone..

texas...thanks on the bolus info...

genia...sorry to hear about your SEs...hang in there...

facecrafter...good luck on Tuesday...hope the first TX will be easy for you as it was for me...

bkokie...thanks for the post...it gives me hope that rads will really be a breeze compared to chemo...

had 13 of 33 today and so far so good...keeping my fingers crossed that it stays this way...

about gowns, towels and pillowcases...I put a gown on with opening to the front...after I lay down on the TX table, rad tech moves one side of the gown out of way to make sure the tattoos line up with the machine...the first time, I asked him if I needed to remove the gown sleeve as I am also supposed to get treatment on the nodes/armpit...he told me that there is no need to do that because the "rays" go through anything except for the metal that they use on the machine...hmmnn...

 have a great holiday weekend everyone...

Hello Rad sisters.  I will officially start Wednesday the 27th.  I was told if there is a nice fluffy gown available, I can use it, and if not, I will wear one of the classic hospital gowns.  I had the simulation done on wednesday and thought I might start today-Friday, but nope, gotta wait till next weds. 

yeah, I wondered about that, and asked.  They didn't seem so concerned about only three days.  and then a break.   i hope it will be easy too.  thanks, americanpinay

Hi May Ladies:   12 down and 18 to go.... this is really going by quickly.   Got my port out today YIPEE!!!!  Another milestone.  I didn:t expect it to take as long as it did - 30 minutes or more.  I kept it... hope to find a large gemstone and have a jeweler make a pendant out of it.....one unique piece of jewelry!

No SEs thus far - am a little tanned but that's about it.   I joked with the crew that I would have to go to a tanning bed to even it out -- whoa, I got the business about staying out of a tanning bed ---- I was only kidding...

Meg: my experience is much like yours, right down to the special parking.   Must be "Minnesota nice" - I get my rads in Duluth.

I get a three day break from rads.  Fine with me... I'm getting bench butt form all the time in the car......

Have a great weekend everyone!

Two down, twenty-three to go for me.  Yesterday took a lot longer than the first one.  Seems they were having trouble getting the right depth.  But I am glad they are being careful.  Also met with the doctor yesterday (apparently Fridays are my day to do so).  So far, all is well.  I do feel like the treated breast is more tender than it was before and I have a little pain in the top front of my armpit, but it is hard to tell if the pain is related to rads since my breast was still tender from the surgery (and now PMS).  But I figure if I am not sure whether I am having a SE it must not be too bad!  Definitely no fatigue or burning yet.

I was disappointed that the doctor told me not to wear underwire bras at all during treatment (I'm a 36D or DD depending on the style of bra) -- I had thought that wouldn't start until I had skin issues, but apparently they want me to stop wearing one now to prevent chafing.  I ordered a couple of bras online last night from Title 9 and Jockey.com that look like they are shaped more like normal bras but have no underwire.  I don't mind sports bras but would rather not have my breasts squished together all the time.  For the next few days, it is sports bras for me, but that is fine.  I have plenty.

I hope everyone enjoys their 3 day break!!!

Aloha girl...I am still wearing my underwires....they are the only thing that can hold me up...LOL

Hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!!  I start on Tuesday with final sims and maybe even rads. I am all marked up for the weekend you could see it in a tee shirt! I am going to go swimming this weekend I will just be careful and not stay in long enough to fade there markings.

I am so glad to hear that no one is experiencing bad SE. It is very encouraging.