MAY 2009 Rads

It must be the cycle we are all on.  Ivorymom well put.  It truly is grieving.  Our lives have radically changed.  I feel disappointment when I consider how long it is taking for everything to go back to the way it was and then I realize it won't ever go back that way. 

Morning Radettes...and TGIF

lisalisa...Congrats on making the "casting for recovery".  Let us know how it goes. 

Today was #21 and only 12 more to go.....YEAH....As for the rash...I will try to air it out..and then put some Miaderm on it...to see if it heals over the weekend.  I was told to take Advil too...now I have a BABY RASH BOOBIE...geeze...

Have a super RAD FREE weekend!

There is something wrong with my computer...I didn't see all the newest postings until after I sent mine.

Bold and Genia...so sorry that you are not doing well...you know you both got this far...and it seems like forever...just hang in there.  Get lots of rest and think positive thoughts as well.

Before getting zapped this morning I was almost going to ditch going in...and then I thought HOW STUPID...they would just add another zapping at the end. 

WE CAN DO THIS....HANG TIGHT and FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.........

Hi, everyone.  I was busy with a photo shoot and all of the editing, so I'm really tired these last few days, plus I think the fatigue they warned us about is catching up with me.  I am going to rest this weekend, I swear.  (At least until I start doing something around the house).  23 out of 26 done today, I will be so glad when the regular tx are done - my skin is hanging in there, so far no blisters, the nurse thinks I might now make it after all (just like Mary Tyler Moore, for those of you who remember that show) through the last three regular zaps and then I can cruise through the boosts.  I am so ready to be finished!  Swelling and tenderness are increasing, which is normal towards the end of all of these zaps too - but its making wearing a bra uncomfortable.  Too bad I can't go to work without one, but definitely not wearing one this weekend!

Genia & Bold - hope you are doing better!  Cruise - sorry you now have the boob rash - keep it well moisturized!

Deb - don't feel bad - just because you joined the party a little later doesn't make you the outcast - you'll at least be able to know what we are all going through!

Hey Deb,   I think that You're not too far behind me.  I have 24 treatments left.  So perhaps it's up to the Deb's to see this one to the end.

Bold  You're Chernobyl really made me smile.  I know when I'm feeling drained thoughts of radiation poisoning go through my mind and Chernobyl has come to mind a time or three.

I also will both be glad when treatment is over and a bit anxious.  Perhaps that little bit of anxiety will serve a useful purpose to keep me motivated to live a healthy life.  Right now I've been averaging about an hour of exercise each day and my weight is coming down nicely.  I'm even beginning to see a waist line.  I haven't seen that in a while.  I've been lifting weights working on my Michele Obama arms.  At least that's what I hope they look like by the end of the summer.  Keeping up an exercise schedule will be more of a challenge when I go back to work in late July and August.  But, perhaps when radiation is over and my body has had time to rid its self of all of the various poisons I'll have adequate energy for exercise and work.  I sure hope so.

So far so good.  I'm a bit pink under my arm.  Other than that I'm doing pretty well.

Best to all of you fellow radiators.

Hi there Radiators!  (Aren't the Radiators a hot band??)

Happy Friday (TGIF, TGIF, TGIF).  Today was #21 of #25 regular full treatments (3 sites), then I'll have #5 boosts.  Today was a bolus which was especially yucky because the skin in my axilla (pit?) started to peel last night and it is stinging now (ouch).  Picked up the Biafine today and will put some on shortly.  I have two more full-regular and two more full-bolus treatments. SO HAPPY that this is Friday and i have a two-day break.

DEB, Is the Biafine working for you??

Today was the last day of school for my son's elementary school.  1st grade next year...  I've been the bald mom on chemo/rads all year since mastectomy was literally on his first day of school; looking forward to summer! 

Have a great weekend Ladies!

Evening Radettes...

Princess...Radiators are systems that they put in cars filled with water so the cars don't get overheated....hmmmm.  I think most of us feel overheated....mine have blistered and now open sores...must be the extra sunrays I gave them this past weekend. 

Deb Lake and Deb Ohio aka DOLLY...you will be overflowing into July...but thats okay...we will still be here to support you all the way ...

lisalisa..hope you make it without blisters...I thought I would and its not fun or pretty....urrrggghh.

Princess, The Biafine is nice, but then I've only had 4 treatments, I'm not even pink yet, so have no clue if it's working or not.

Cruise aka Crack, Glad you're gonna stick with us...and Nope, they all know what I've been going through, I can use all the help I can get! LOL

Hugs and Love

Has anyone heard of the Calendula Tea Application?  Calendula is another name for the Marigold flower. Calendula flowers are known for their ability to reduce inflammation, promote wound healing and as an antiseptic. You buy the dry calendula petals at a health food store and they are very inexpensive.

My naturopath at the cancer center told me about this..it's supposed to be very good for radiation skin side effects. I start my radiation next week and just wondered if anyone had ever tried it and what success they had with it. Following is the directions and some info about the calendula flower petals.

Boil 2 quarts of water, turn off heat and add a handful of the petals to the water and cover with well fitting lid for 30 mins or until cooled. Strain flowers and store tea in glass container. Refrigerate after each use and warm for each application.

Take an old terry clothe towel and wet it in the tea,, wet but not dripping and apply it to radiated area 2x's a day. It will stain clothing so be careful.

Thanks for any input anyone can share! Best wishes for all of you to see that light at the end of the tunnel soon!

~Belinda~

HI Belinda, Calendula is very antiinflammatory and wonderful for skin; it's thought to promote wound healing too.   I have an oil that I made from dried calendula flowers that I harvested up in the Lakes Basin area in Northern California a few years back.  I like your naturopath's recipe.  It will stain!    Topically it's v. safe overall.  If folks are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or daisies - - then it could be a problem/potential for rash.

Deb-on-the-Lake - you might want to discuss the exercising, especially the weight lifting with your rad onc next treatment.  When I mentioned to my rad onc that I was so happy to finally feel good enough to begin working out, he told me emphatically NOT to do anything that could change the shape of my body, waist, arms or anything, until after treatments are finished, because the slightest change in my body shape would throw off the measurements they worked so hard to get precise during the simulation and that could affect the treatment - meaning the treatments could be going in the wrong spot.  I was bummed - I thought I could start really getting my body back, but they said not to.  Just a caution there to anyone working out - please check with your doctor!!

Chel.....my Dr. told me the same thing when I talked to her about dieting.  No changes in my body whatsoever.  She wanted me to stay the same weight because of the markings changing if I didn't.  This is the FIRST time in my life that a Dr. doesn't want me dieting........lolol.

I can promise....the day my rads end....I'm goin on a MAJOR diet the next day.  I hate this weight on me.  I'm small framed and not supposed to be this big!!!

Tex....nah.....no one would notice!  And if they did.....so what!  We have earned the right to do whatever we please even if that means goin bald!

hugs and love to you all

Deb-from-Ohio - - you might want to save that *expensive-as-gold* Biafine cream for later in case you need it for a sore/extra red/peeling area, and just use 100% aloe + a less expensive thick lotion for now.  I made it to tx #20 before developing a peeling area in my armpit and am now using the Biafine.  The directions for Biafine are to apply the product very thickly 1/4 to 1/2 inch to the wound area that needs help healing.  It hurt to put on work clothes / bra yesterday.  I've asked my boss if I can work from home a bit over these last few weeks.  A lot of my work is writing and editing, so it's sort of possible, but better to have a presence in the office.

Have a healing weekend everyone!  oxo C

Hey Princess, sounds like a good idea to me..I didn't burn too bad when I  used to go to the tanning bed so hopefully I won't with this either, but ya never know........radiation is an alltogether different ballpark.............

Gee Deb, I was told first, NO losing weight while on chemo.....so I thought Ok, will do it during Rads..they told me the same thing! Said I need all my strength and energy to help my body repair itself and if I lose weight will lose strength and energy.........Dag, fat causes cancer yet you're not allowed to lose weight, go figger!

Yay for you finishing rads!!!  Glad you haven't peeled - that seems to be the case on everyone towards the end - maybe you've come through with just the red skin.  I know what you mean about the soreness - it hurts just to keep my arm tightly to my side!

You have made it through!