July 2009 rads group

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  • Becky613
    Becky613 Member Posts: 25
    edited August 2009

    survivorsal - How disappointing for you that you have to have 2 more treatments when you were expecting to be done in 33 treatments.  For me, the plan was to have 28 regular treatments and 7 boosts.  However, at 33 treatments I developed a skin break down the rad onc recommended a 2 week break.  We have had vacation planned around the rads and plan to leave the state before the 2 week break would be up....so he let me do 33 instead of 35 treatments.  The common number of rads seems to be 33-35.  I don't know how they decide how many treatments  you get.  The redness is normal.  Good luck to you.

    Becky

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  • ibjennifer125
    ibjennifer125 Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2009

    4 more to go...down to the boost now. My poor chest looks like raw meat. It is burning and itching so bad. I'm not sleeping well at all.  CryI wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

    saw my oncologist today- latest scans came back clean  Thank you Jesus. Doc is pleased with me overall.  Start my Arimidex next week and like most women I hope I don't have a big old weight gain.

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  • MsDebS
    MsDebS Member Posts: 36
    edited August 2009

    I have my setup today for the 8 boosts that start on Monday.  But hey....I am now down to the single digits.  Husband is still in the hospital....having an epidural injection of steroids into his spine this morning and if that doesnt work...surgery on Monday.  We two are just limping through life right now.  I will be glad to just have to worry about him when I am done with rads on the 26th.

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited August 2009

    ibjennifer125 - Congrats on scans being clear!!! You must be thrilled!!

    MsDebS - Hoping your husband will be ok - you certainly have enough to contend with!

    Have a great weekend everyone!

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  • LoriL
    LoriL Member Posts: 185
    edited August 2009

    I'm DONE!!! Yeah! 25 regular treatments and 5 boosts are now history! Overall, I've held up pretty good. I'm not sleeping as well, but that will get better with time. My skin is a little red, but nothing major. I brought treats for the Radiation Oncology dept. and there were hugs all around. Now on to the next adventure- Tamoxifen.

    I didn't post very much here, but I did read everyone's posts and it felt good to know that there were others going through it the same time I was. God bless you all! May we live a long and healthy life- thankful for every extra day that we have been given! 

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  • ibjennifer125
    ibjennifer125 Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2009

    donnamariem - I went through that same anxiety after chemo was done. I had about a month between chemo and surgery and I worried constantly that I had nothing going on, even though my tumor had shrunk almost completely by this time. Then I went through it after surgery for about a month until Rads started. Rad are coming the an end ( Thank God ) and I was thinking yesterday.

    Now what?  My daughter pointed that  "Now what"  is Arimedex I start taking next week, so that helped my anxiety.

    MsDebS - bless your hearts and good luck with your hubby.

    To all the rest - congrats that your on the finish line with your rads. I've got 3 more and it won't end soon enough.  Skin is a mess

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  • ibjennifer125
    ibjennifer125 Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2009

    To NanaA - yes i have that tense and tightness in my in my neck and shoulders. I have my hubby to rub it real good about twice a day. He teases me about just wanting a back rub .... ahhhh I want my life back.

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  • lollys
    lollys Member Posts: 205
    edited August 2009

    anyone having any problem with lymphedema post rads--mostly affects people with mastectomy and 20-30 nodes removed --does anyone fit that criteria--I start rads end of august and had mastectomy with 30 nodes removed --scared I will end up with a deformed arm but just wondering how others have done--Thanks Laura

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  • Dawnmrn1
    Dawnmrn1 Member Posts: 446
    edited August 2009

    Hi lollys!  I am 20 into 33 rads,and had bitlateral mastectomies, my left side had 24/24 nodes all positive!  I have very slight lymphedema, but I never favored my arm after the drain came out!  Still drag groceries and lift and stretch as much as I can!  My upper arm is tighter than my right but that is all!  All the MD's do is say ok!  So I guess I'm okay! I recommend you exercise, and drink plenty of water, and it should help!  Good luck! Dawn

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  • living4today
    living4today Member Posts: 215
    edited August 2009

    Quick question.  I have had 17 out of 28 txs done and since Friday I have literally "crashed", whenever I try to do something (load of laundry, etc) I start to get short of breath.  My DH tried taking me to a garden center this afternoon, but I was barely able to walk in to the store and we left right away.  If I lay around, I don't have any symptoms, just fatigue. It is so hard to think about going to tx tomorrow.  I don't know if it is because they are radiating both sides so my total table time is 30-40 minutes every day.  Thanks for your help.

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  • carollynn79
    carollynn79 Member Posts: 654
    edited August 2009

    ibjennifer125-  What are you doing for the rawness?  I am raw underneath the breast, trying to keep it dry and use aloe and cortisone and then put the fan on it.  I have 3 more regular and then 5 boosts, can't wait to be done.  Don't sleep well either, Dr offerd me something last week did not take it will ask for Rx tommorrow when I see him.

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  • Becky613
    Becky613 Member Posts: 25
    edited August 2009

    carollynn79- I had rawness under the breast beginning about treatment 24 for which I continued to use an herbal lavender burn salve.  Every aloe product I tried made it worse.  Then I had the skin break down and get very sore and weepy at treatment 32.  The rad onc wanted to give me a break but we were going on vacation and leaving the state, so he let me out of the last 2 treatments.  After the skin broke down I used Bag Balm at his recommendation.  A few days later my sister recommended putting a white cotton sock under by breast after I applied the bag balm.  This actually felt alot better and has helped.  I'm also using a poultice of calendula, planktin, yarrow and goldenseal twice a day now for 2 days and the sores are almost healed!  Also, stay away from bras of all kinds.  Take something for sleep too.Congrats on being finished soon.

    Becky

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  • Irishred
    Irishred Member Posts: 136
    edited August 2009

    Sweetie, its not the pillls, cause I am not taking any, its the damn position of where you have to be during radiation    TALK to them,  tell them its not working and lets make it better, I DID and WOW what a difference  GOOD LUCK

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  • Irishred
    Irishred Member Posts: 136
    edited August 2009

    Sweetie, its not the pillls, cause I am not taking any, its the damn position of where you have to be during radiation    TALK to them,  tell them its not working and lets make it better, I DID and WOW what a difference  GOOD LUCK

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  • Irishred
    Irishred Member Posts: 136
    edited August 2009

    Sweetie, its not the pillls, cause I am not taking any, its the damn position of where you have to be during radiation    TALK to them,  tell them its not working and lets make it better, I DID and WOW what a difference  GOOD LUCK

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  • Irishred
    Irishred Member Posts: 136
    edited August 2009

    Sweetie, its not the pillls, cause I am not taking any, its the damn position of where you have to be during radiation    TALK to them,  tell them its not working and lets make it better, I DID and WOW what a difference  GOOD LUCK

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  • ibjennifer125
    ibjennifer125 Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2009

    lollys - Had right breast mastectomy on May 11 and 10 nodes removed. My right arm has been swollen since then although it seems to be slowly going down. I feel a numbing sensation under my arm which I hopw will subside in time. Is till use my right arm as much as ever. I'm trying to exercise it daily now, as I think that's what will get it back to normal. At least I hope so.

     carollyn79 - the only thing that relieves it is the silvadene. I've tried aloe and several different things but most over the counter aloe skin treatments have alcohol and burn like hot pokers. I slather the silvadene on and put a bandage over it. It's the bandages they gave me after the mastectomy.. it's the meshy kind so the wound can get air as well.  I've had a pity party today...I cried and sniffed while folding laundry.. I didn't even go to church. I'm hurting ..I'm itching and I want this crap over with.  My poor husband...he tries to comfort me when I have a breakdown which is rare, but I know he feels so helpless. Cry

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2009

    living4today, that fatigue is awful but normal. Or what can be termed "normal" in our situation. As far as the shortness of breath, ask your rad onc if this is because both sides are being radiated.

    I'm still exhausted and my skin is still getting worse, not better. Another thing termed "normal" for us. I finished last Tuesday, so the radiation is what's termed "still active" in my system. In other words, I'm still cooking.

    Something really nice happened yesterday.Someone in my community had organized a trip, and I was sitting on the  bus with a neighbor's friend (someone I had only met once before). I put some aloe gel on my neck, and this womean asked if I wa putting on suntan lotion. I said no, it was for a burn I had from  medical treatment. She turned the conversation to a general one about creams for burns and other skin issues. It was obvious that she felt my business was my business, not hers. Small considerations become big in our situation.

    Leah

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  • Susantc
    Susantc Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2009

    Reporting in from post-radiation world. I had my last whole breast zap one week ago and finished by boosts on the 14th. I am much less red (the boost area is still cooking a bit), my arm pit is still red but not so bothersome anymore, and I feel pretty good. I have had some fatigue but not too much. Today's challenge is to go fill the tamoxifen prescription. I decided to give myself the weekend off, but today I will do it. Wish me luck! I am sending hugs to those of you who are still at this. My body is so used to going to radiation that I started thinking about it this morning at my old appointment time. It will be over quickly. Stay strong.

    Susan

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited August 2009

    This is the first Monday I haven't had to get up early to go for rads. I finished last Tuesday. My skin is still red but holding up. I'm slathering up the Glaxal cream a couple of times a day. So far so good. Good luck to everyone. You are near the end of rads.

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  • lollys
    lollys Member Posts: 205
    edited August 2009

    Thanks for the post ibjennifer1  I will see the rad onc. today just to go over more of my fears--I so have good range of motion now but will hope it stays and I can keep exercising!!

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  • nanabolini
    nanabolini Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2009

    It's over, done, finished.  I can hardly belive it!  It seemed endless and impossible at the outset. I had visions of having to be carried in on a stretcher toward the end, but here I am, all in one piece..  Don't get me wrong, it was not easy and I hated every minute of it.  I did not have a positive attitude.  I endured simply because I had no choice.

    To all who haven't yet finished the best part will be when it's over.

    Love and hugs to all in July rads.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2009

    nanabolini, congratulations on finishing rads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I had the same "I just have to get through this" attitude as you. What were the techs like? I found them very impersonal, which added to the distress. I am not a piece of the machinery, I am a person, but sometimes that's how they made me feel. 25 treatments, 6 different techs, and in all that time only 1 tech asked me how I felt - and that was only once. It's apparently the attitude in the whole hospital. A friend of mine had her chemo and surgery there and said the floor nurses and chemo nurses were that way too. I'm glad I was elsewhere for the rest of my treatment since the nurses where I had treatment were very sympathetic and caring. I had the feeling, with the chemo nurses, that if I come back in 3 years they would remember me and be concerned about how I was doing but with the rad techs, if I come back in 3 months they might not recognize me. I see posts where women say how the techs celebrate with them when they finish. With me, they just said, "Did you realize this is your last treatment?" Duh. Then they just said to get the paperwork from the reception desk for transportation since HMO covers payment for that.

    Leah

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  • nwood450
    nwood450 Member Posts: 110
    edited August 2009

    Oh girls ... we finished and yet the pain contiunes.  I finished last Tuesday and the breakdown under my breast keeps getting worse everyday!  It is so painful that I don't know what to do with myself.  I have tried all the creams they have offered and even some home remedies and nothing is touching it.  They want to use silvadene but i'm allergic to supha drugs.  A friend of mine is getting me a cream called MSM ... she taliked to her naturalist and he recommended it.  I tried pure aloe gel and thought I would lose my mind it stung so badly.  Today I went by the rad facility to have a nurse check it.  Got the "crabby" nurse who has absolutely no compassion.  Told me I just have to ride this out.  She also pointed out to me that I didn't have an appt. and would have to wait my turn. AHHHHHH!  Yesterday I spend a good part of the day crying and just feeling sorry for myself.  This will get better, right?  I am so sick of all of this.  Was not expecting my first week post radiaition to be like this.

    Love to all, (thanks for listening to my ranting)

    Nancy

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2009

    Nancy, I'm so sorry you're having a hard time. Have you tried any products with calendula in them? I've seen a lot of women on these threads who say they work very well. There are creams with them, or you can get the tea at a health food store, brew it, and make compresses when it cools off.

    Leah

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  • carollynn79
    carollynn79 Member Posts: 654
    edited August 2009

    Counting down to all who are done thanks for the continued support.  They suggested I try some RadX for my very sore areas under the breast, and Ambien for sleep.  They told me they have seen much worse, kinda made me feel like I was complaining too  much but oh well.  For the most part they ask everyday how you feel and are counting down with me.  I too find that the aloe is great for helping cool most of the breast but does nothing for the very tender underneath.  I cut up tee shirts and make sure my breast is cvered with it as I try to go braless as much as possible but sometimes have to these D's just drag too much!  Most of my problem is just tired of being tired sore and cranky. As they say this too shall pass, thanks for listening!!

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited August 2009

    ((((Nancy))))

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  • survivorsal
    survivorsal Member Posts: 12
    edited August 2009

    Today was the first day I took off from work because of this horrible disease.  The fatigue just overtook me.  I went back to sleep until 1:10 P.M.!!  Felt better after that.  Had my 27th out of 28 regular rads today!  Then 7 boosts and I'm DONE!  Next Thursday, here we come!

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  • survivorsal
    survivorsal Member Posts: 12
    edited August 2009

    Great job Nanabolini!  I'm at 27/28 + 7 boosts today and I had to take off work today - just couldn't do it -- this fatigue sucks.

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  • ibjennifer125
    ibjennifer125 Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2009

    well I'm on my last 3 treatments as of today and wouldn't you know it...I'm lying there for my treatment and the machine breaks down. I stayed calm but on the inside I was livid. I won't be finished Wednesday now ..have to tack on another day. I am  red raw and miserable. So far the only relief I get is slathering with Silvadene and putting a bandage over the wound. I will have had a total of 6 boosts on the surgical site but all I have from that is itching. I just learned today I keep on "cooking" for a week or longer. Somehow I was thinking once it ended the healing would begin. Learning this added to my pity party snot bagging weekend. I think that anger stage you get with cancer is hitting me now - 9 months later. I have been grumpy..asking my hubby dumb questions like why me? Poor guy...He would take my place if he could. Even typing this I feel like I'm going to break down and start sobbing right here at my keyboard.  The best news I've had is reading about all you gals either already finished or heading for the finish line.

    I've not had one bit of fatigue with rads but I cannot sleep at night. I only sleep about 4 hours but once I'm up and about I seem to be ok.... 

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