AUGUST 2009 RADS

I haven't read about radiation making anyone HYPER, but both yesterday and today I felt a little manic.  No, I am NOT BIPOLAR.  I felt a little queasy, too.  Maybe that was my migraine.  I felt a touch of migraine since yesterday's treatment. Here we go.  Yes, I am a bit of a HYPOCHONDRIC on rads.  Is there such a thing as a HYPER-CHONDRIAC????

 

Hey All - I was in today for #7 and saw doc.  the lump under my scar he said was nothing to worry about - he called it something but I don't remember the name - but he said it is like a fluid sac. Said it is very common. ahh

Janincolarado - my doc. did not say anything to me about not using upper body - at least until there would be breaks in the skin or severe irritation.  - I am a runner and he said it was ok to run at least until too much sweating would be bad for open skin etc. 

good luck to everyone

Hi All!  I have # 19 down, 6 more regular and 5 boosts to go!!  I too have been having a lot of heartburn and nausea the last few days.  Also it feels like I have burnt my tongue, but don't remember doing it.  My Onc said to take some Zantac for the heartburn and it seemed to take away the nausea too.  I did not take any today, but still feel slight nausea/burning sensation will take one again soon.  Also, although he said it is not from Rads, I seem to be 8 days overdue for my period!! NO - not pregnant - must be stress!!  Oh Well, only 11 more tx to go and maybe things will settle down (I mean, of course, after the 2 week peak period after the last tx!)  Be Well All! 

Hi everyone!!!

Done with #10 out of 33 (9 of them will be the famous boost).  So far so good-- my left side just feels wierd, the skin feels tight somehow, but I am not red.  The scar aches a bit.  I am using aquafor at night and aloe during the day.  I was told initially that they would miss my heart and would only clip the top of my left lung (tumor was inside of left breast very deep to chest wall like Ravenruth).  Now I find out that the decision was made to hit the top of the heart in order to get the tumor bed that was so close to chest wall.  I was a bit shocked that my opinion was not solicited-- I would have agreed to do it as the argument goes that it is better to kill the cancer now and worry about heart and lung problems 15-20 years down the road-- but I would have liked to have been consulted rather than have it presented as a done deal.  Radiation is so creepy-- so invisible-- at least with the chemo you could see the posion going into your body.... 

I have found a roll on deodorant (Crystal is the name brand) that is aluminium free, fragrance free etc-- I found that the Toms of Maine solid was rough to put on-- I felt like I was dragging it across my armpit which could not be good for it.

LoriR--I am up all night all the time with hot flashes from hell-- so it is hard to tell how much is fatigue and how much is lack of sleep. I have not slept more than 4 hours at a time since I was diagnosed....Work is tough--chemo brain still in full efffect:(

Big hugs to everyone!

Helen

thanks everyone, it's good to know that i'm not crazy.  Just having a real tough emotional day today and i'm not sure why.

Anyway tomorrow is another day.  Good luck and god bless.

Sherry

Helen- I too have not had a good nights sleep since dx - the hot flashes are crazy!  I am sure that has a lot to do with feeling so lazy - The chemo brain is crazy too.  I can't seem to follow anyone's stories at work which is NOT good.  I am the HR director at my co. so most of what I do is listen - and sometimes I will be sitting there looking at an employee thinking to my self - I have no idea what he just said and now I am suppose to give a response.  This really sucks for me because I used to be really good at my job and now - not!  I thought I could at least rest on my laurels a bit at work since I have been there for 15 years and worked for the same boss for 13 of them; but no such luck - my company is in turmoil and there is daily talk of takeovers, bank issues, cut backs, lay offs etc.   I not only can't take off work but really need to be "ON" when I am there. 

Kawee - I think it is great that you are power walking - I know Lupus can really kick you in the butt - I have a friend with it so I have seen what it can do.  You probably speed walk faster than I run -  I really should call it jogging and not running - Kuddos to you!

fmajk - did  you have chemo?  that could explain it - I haven't had mine since chemo which is when my hot flashes started

charmd - I have heard of so many people saying that they get upset stomachs while on rads - it has to be a se even if not officially

Sherry - it is ok - we all have them - I flipped out on my husband today because he made be make the vet appt. - why couldn't he handle it and just let it be one less thing for me to deal with!   seems petty but it really ticked me off!

best of luck to everyone - another day down!

Alyad - what a horrible experience!  Lets hope you don't have to go through that again! The nausea I experience is like yours also - normally a piece of fruit does the trick - it's the heartburn that has been bothering me! 

LoriR- no - no chemo for me- kinda weird isn't it?  Maybe Radipause??

Nausea is not specifically a se of breast radiation, but it is "general" se of radiation - along with eating problems (either non-stop or unable to eat!). 

Let's hope we ALL get through this week smoothly!!  Be Well All!

Alyad,  do you know what percentage of your lung is getting radiated?  I ask because you are getting the IMRT.  (I understand it could depend on where the tumor was in the first place, but I'm just wondering.)  I'm getting 3D-Conformal and found out that it is hitting 20% of my lung. Rad-Onc had told me earlier that the lung usually gets a little because it's right up against the chest wall.  I guess his idea of "a little" and mine are pretty different. I was horrified.

Dayla...That really sucks that you had to lay there for so long!!! I am going to be there tomorrow all day. I may see you, what time do you go in?

Well, my first rad treatment was excruciating only because they did my markings first and then my radiation afterwards. Usually they don't start rads until the next day, but they wanted to start early on me. Anyway, I had to lay on the hard board with my arms above my head for about 2 hours total!! They let me get up once to get some feeling back. They kept reassuring me that it would not be like this from now on....only about 15 minutes.  Elimar...I gave in and let them do the tattoos afterall. I guess they aren't that bad, they look like a small blackhead. I have 4 of them.

Hi ladies;  This AM #13 of 16 , with 3 to go.  Cant wait to finish.  No bra however bought 3 soft anti static camisoles.  I use one under street clothes.  I use one to sleep in to protect my skin. I use the third to wear as I spreadi the prescribed Biafin Topical Emulsion on breast which smears the sharpie marks on this camisole.  It does wash out and this system works well for me.  Take care of your selves.   Cathey

I am right there with you.  I started on Tuesday.  So far it is okay.  My rad/onc said to use only Aloe and they will prescribe something else if I need it.  Good luck to all.  3 down, 27 to go.

Ravenruth - My sharpie mark (I have 3 tattoos also) is on some kind of a clear sticker.  I just wash, but not scrub the area.  It's still on fine after 12 days.  They look at it and said if it looks like to might come off, they'll just remark it.

 I was afraid too, but it takes longer to get undressed and dressed than it does to do the rad.

You lay on a table, put your hands over your head, they get you lined up, and  the machine moves into place, then you hear a buzzing sound, I think it's about 30 seconds on one side, then the machine moves to the other and buzzes for another 30 seconds. That's it, you feel nothing.  At least that's the way mine are.  Tomorrow is day 10 and so far so good.  I'm a little tired, but I have lupus so I'm tired alot.  No breast redness, nothing. 

 I just tell myself right before it starts that Jesus has entered the building.  I picture his hands out sending healing light over my breast while the machine is buzzing. 

You'll see, nothing to worry about. 

I spent some time in the waiting room today with other patients. . usually i get hustled into the rad room as i arrive, but today they were doing a first mapping with a new patient.  So we all conferred.  We are all a little nauseous, a little weird feeling, and very fatigued about six hours after rads.  We all confess to deep naps at times we have never napped before.  We have dry throats, heartburn, pain in the area, swelling to the breasts and scars, hardening of the breast, reddening, pinkish skin, and very hungry and at other times very thirsty.  OMG!!!  Going every day is getting to me, its my second week of 7 weeks.  That 7 weeks is a lower rad dose but longer time thing.  I was singing to everyone today "Friday's  the most wonderful day of the week" and the techs sang back " because its payday" and we laugh and drink water.  I even took my wig off when they  called my name and threw it at my husband to hold and got laughs from the patients and techs.  I love the crew there, they are the best.  But when i return to my onc on the 8th of October, my 66th birthday, i am going to tell him that for older patients, rads are not a walk in the park.  The hardest part is getting my already bad back and knees and neck on and off that damn table every morning!  And then all those symptoms besides.  I am not having fun but i am having that healing feeling.  Thank God.

lemonyellow:     I could have signed my name to your post.  SO TRUE   The only thing you left out was the sleepless nights of  one hour and then awake and over and over throughout the night of sleeplessness and dry coughing.  Add to that the unwelcome hot flashes that repeat through covers or no covers fight all night. 

I had #14 of 16 shortened rad treatments this AM. Only two to go Monday and Tuesday.  Yes ladies it does finally end even if you dont think it will.  The emulsion cream prescribed by my rad onc kept my breast light pink with just a little redish under.  Guess it was good cream.  I have been warned to continue using creams for a couple of weeks after end of radiation as the breast can still go to red, blisters etc after last treatment.  Luck to all.   Cathey