October Rads. 2009

Hi everyone!!

Lisa, great to hear from you - but darn that allergic reaction (like you needed THAT right now).  Keep up posted.  You will kill em in your speech.  I'm working full time, too.  At least they put a lazy boy in my office so I could nap after rads (I have them at noon every day). 

Carolyn, WELCOME to the board.  I'm a grandma too and shock myself everytime I figure out how to do something like this.

Had my weekly doctor meeting today.  They asked about my sleeping and appetite.  Thanks to benadryl, I sleep fine.  Appetite is NEVER a problem.

BIG SOFT HUGS to all October folks.

Love,
Liz

I had appointment #6 today.  22 more to go.  Today they took quality-control xrays and I met with the radiation oncologist.  So far so good, minus feeling generally crappy from the flu shot I got last Friday. 

I mentioned that I did not like the Aquaphor (way too greasy) so I got a prescription for Biafine, which, from the sample, I can tell I'm going to like better.

Wishing all a wonderful week!

Hi, Tara,

I did not have chemo - lumpectomy and then radiation.  We started the rads 10 days after surgery because I have a vacation planned over Thanksgiving.  Came back to work the week rads started.  I think it all depends on the type of work that you do.   I have ultimate flexibility with work. Right now, I come to the office by 9 or so - go for radiation at noon (it's only 5" away) - come back and work for a few hours then drive home.  They put a nice lazy-boy recliner in my office (staff gave me the coziest comfort on earth).  Frequently hold meetings while in the recliner.  Those meetings almost seem like "therapy" for all of us.  It's one of the nice things that has happened in this journey.

I am so happy that you have more good than bad days.  

Liz

Thanks to Kime, Liztaylort, and Swampy,    Sure is nice to hear from ladies that know  what BC  is all about.   I feel like a Pansy after reading what some folks have already experienced.  I live in KC and am happy to be close to Kansas U. Med Center.  Good luck to the Moffitt Cancer Center and hope they reach the monetary goal for the latest equipment.    Too bad it is the almighty dollar that runs so much of this world.   Am anxious to meet with the onocologist tomorrow and find out for sure the course of action.  

Hugs to all 

Tara, I am starting radiation on Nov 9th (28x) I am returning to work next week, I work 3 days a week. I haven't worked since May 18th when I had my surgery (mastectomy with tram flap reconstruction) started chemo 7/1, 4AC, 4 Taxol every 2 weeks and herceptin. Finished last Taxol 10/7, still don't feel normal yet. I could never have worked during my chemo, I know a lot of people that do. I am hoping I do all right working when I start the radiation. 

Hi, I have been working thru chemo (T/C-last session was 9-10-09), started rads on Sept 30.  I'm not having any trouble working other than fatigue, but I just muddle through.  My boss has repeatedly told me I can take time off but only did on chemo days and day 5 (which was Mondays) after treatments #3 & #4.  

Rads was very emotional at 1st, but I had been through quite a bit of abnormal stress related things directly after treatment #4.  I think when I 1st started rads, I was finally giving myself permission to release some of that stress by being a crying basket case for approximately a week.  I was a mess.  Doing much better now and today was #15 of 33 times of getting radiated!  Yeah almost 1/2 way done!

Joni2 

Kayok: Good luck tomorrow! Let us know what happens.

VTMom - Yes, I only had my fourth radiation treatment tonight, and I have, not pain, but a sensitivity to some of my breast and around my sentinel scar.  I mentioned it last night, but she didn't think it was anything.  Oh well....  Glad I'm not alone!  Good luck to you thru the rads.

Linda

Tara,I am sure if you are working during chemo you should do fine during radiation. By the way my daughters name is Tara also. God Bless.

Yesterday I had my fourth treatment. My rad doctor is on vacation, but her partner pulled me aside to talk. I was not expecting it so did not have my questions ready.

He asked about side effects, and I said since I only had had 3 treatments, I did not really have any. Then I said, "Well, maybe a little tenderness. Not in the surgery area, but all over the breast". He nodded, in a way that indicated satisfaction, like that was the right way to feel. I did not think (at the time) to ask if I was correct in that perception.  

All I could think to ask about, from the top of my head, was if Aloe was OK. He said Yes, as long as it was alcohol, color, and fragrance free. I said I had that, but could not find any that was preservative free. He said totally natural would be better, but that the preservatives were probably OK.

I should have asked him about Echinacea, since he seems more "reasonable" than my doctor, who said, take nothing, apply nothing.

for two days now, i have been weak as a kitten.  i work but I just dragged myself through the day...also my tummy is hurting.  i don't have a fever or a headache but I feel like a bull dozer has driven over me and the road rash on my boob is so darned itchy...even with lotion and apple cider vinegar soaks.  Does anyone else have a crummy tummy and general malaise...only seven more to go.....I'm pooping out......

Linda and VTMom, I asked my radiologist today about pain at the outside of my breast.  He said that radiation causes a build up of fluid, and that many women develp a ridge of fluid build up at the outside and, in larger breasted women, at the underside of the breast.  Said the underwire of my bra was pressing up against that fluid build up, making it worse...how nice it was to have my complaint of pain validated!  No hemming or hawing, just "yes, I believe that you are in pain and here is why."

As of the past few hours, pain down my right arm, too...and I bet it's related.

I asked about radiation and moles, as I have many and have had many biopsied over the years for suspicious changes.  He said that flat moles will often develop a sort of black powdery-ness over them, but that it flakes off a few weeks after radiation.  Lovely.

vt mom: Your diagnosis seems a lot like mine. Also stage 0, but grade 3; second lumpectomy because margins were too small. Second surgery found another patch of DCIS. After second, margin is still too small at the back (chest wall), but there is nothing more to take.

I had my fifth treatment yesterday. I felt a little tenderness and a twinge or two from day one. Twinges are nowhere near the surgery site: opposite side of the breast, actually. A little more tenderness each day, including under the arm, though I had no nodes sampled. I think I am still a bit numb at the surgery site, which may be why I feel it less there. Where was your surgery? Mine was on the inside lower quadrant. The most sore part is directly opposite. I am switching to my sports bra as of today as bouncing makes it worse. Skin looks fine.

Today I feel a bit nauseated too...but considering I did "preview" the bag  of Halloween candy stashed in the garage (I just wanted to make sure it was fresh for the kiddies), I'm  not sure rads are to blame. The doctor seemed pleased when I told him Tuesday I was a bit tender...seemed to think that was the way I should feel. He mentioned fluid buildup too, now that I think about it.

Wendy, my doctors said to take only an ordinary multivitamin. No extras, no large doses. The level of antioxidants present in large doses counter the effects of the rads in killing cancer cells (short version).

Hi all!  Had my simulation, mold made today and tatoos. Go back Monday for first first treatment. I still have one the drain from surgery in on the "working" side and it is leaking. I have to change the bandages every copule hours. Hopefully I can get the drain out next week. It will call for a 5 hour round trip, but I'm going to try to schedule a MUGA scan on the same day I get the last drain out. My local health food store is out of 100% Aloe Vera, but they have more on order.

I was told not to apply lotion or aloe vera up to 4 hours before treatments. How many times a day do you gals use the aloe?

hugs to my rad sisters...

Rads it is.... I met with a radiation oncologist last week, then go in again on the 27th. I assume the appointment on the 27th is to get the treatment plan outlined, and a schedule put together? I'm still healing from the mastectomy so not sure when they'll start rads?