October Rads. 2009

I had # 16 last Friday so I am halfway. For the first time I have that tanned/pink "square" some of you have mentioned, that tells me exactly what area is being zapped. It sure is good to find out ahead of time, on these boards, about a lot of this. It helps a lot.

I have a big patch of darker "tan" about 4 inches under the arm pit, I wonder what that is all about? It's like the midpoint of the swelling. They had to do a lot of tinkering last week to re-target. I still have the swelling so I think that is changing the angles.

After Friday's treatment I became very sore/tender inside. The nipple is dry and sore too but it is the inside that is the most achey. Saturday I was walking through a museum with family and I was so sore I could not concentrate. And I had looked forward to the excursion all week as a "reward"! I took some ibuprofen (it was the only thing I had with me) and was surprised that it helped. Not completely but about 50%. I sat in the  back seat going home so I could cradle the breast from the bumps of the ride.

I'm wondering if the rest of you take anything for pain, and what it is. So far my skin seems to be OK with just the aloe 2x a day. The doctor said to treat the nipple more frequently but it's hard to arrange getting undressed in the middle of the day, and letting it dry (it's cold here, and I'm not alone much). The texture of my skin is getting rougher but that does not bother me, it's not like a rash.

I know what you mean about people taking the overly cheerful view. That's OK for me to take, if and when I want to (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't). I find I'm annoyed when what I'm going through is downplayed. I find my husband is going back to "normal" now, having gotten over the shock. He keeps saying things like, "It's over. Radiation is just insurance". Well, I don't feel like it's "over". For the rest of my life I will have the threat of this hanging over me, how can it be "over"?

My neighbor's sister has colon cancer, another neighbor across the street had uterine cancer. We were talking about it, at a family get-together, and he (and the others) were saying how much worse it would be to have those. Well, yes, maybe, but I don't want to hear that now. I've been kicked in the head, and I'm still reeling. I'm not sure that my emotional state should be put on a scale and rated lower than what other people "deserve".

Lynn56, someone suggested to me to go bra-less and go shirtless to bed. I took this advice and the swelling and pain went away the next day. During the day I'm wearing very loose, soft cotten shirts with a loose, warm wool vest over. With not much clothes on it's easier to put on extra aloe. I try and put some more on whenever I have to go to the bathroom. When I sleep, I lay on my back and put a teddy bear on my belly to hold up the sheets.

All I have needed so far is ibuprofen. Only 14 more rads to go - and after this week it will only be 9.

Hugs to you all!

Hello, dear radiation friends,

Today was 27/35.  I start boosts (whatever those are) on Wednesday.  My breast is a light red - like a soft sunburn.  Doctor says it looks "good".  He said some people have a "lobster" color.  Still using mometasome right after treatment.  Now also using aloe and aquaphor.

I just don't feel very good.  Did a social thing on Saturday eve and church on Sunday.  That was about it for activities.  This fatigue is something else.  I drive 2 hours r/t to work every day - go for rad (5" from my office) at  noon - eat lunch in my car.  Plus, these hot flashes....

I read your notes everyday but haven't had the energy to add a note.  My cardiac results were "normal".  Will have a hysterectomy on December 22 (so I can recover over the holidays).  My surgeon uses the "daVinci robot" which cuts down on  pain and time off from work.

Right now, I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.  I read what you write every day.

Love,

Liz

Hi Ladies, Started rads today #1 of 28 have a ways to go and can't wait till it is over with. I was in and out pretty quick this morning. Tomorrow after rads I will be going to work ( 3 days a week) They would not give me the herceptin last week because my ejection fraction was 50%, have to see a Cardiologist on Thursday. Anyone know anything about that??? Any info would help. Thanks,Joanne

PauldingMom - That's really, really beautiful.  Thank you.

Re: comfortable positions while sleeping, I found that the following worked for me - (1) one extra squishy full sized pillow which I used while sleeping on my side or even partially on my stomach  to cushion my  radiated breast and (2) a small firm pillow (like an accent pillow) which I wedged under my arm, at the arm pit (and yes, I did put a pillow case on it) so that I didn't rub the skin under the arm and even gave it some breathing room. Hope this helps.

Tracyanne,  I did not know about boost (for me) either at first.  I think it was after I had completed 25 treatments he mentioned we now have 3 more regular treatments left, and the we do 8 boosts.

Then he explained it was to directly zap the tumor site only, the rest of the breast is done with radiation. I was marked with black marker, it was taped over and cautioned to shower with my back to the showerhead, do not get the tape or the marked area wet, huh ? how on earth do you manage to shower and not get wet all over ?  I have settled for washing the treated area with cottonballs, phisoderm soap and rinse gently with water soaked cotton balls, I do not apply anything to the approx 1 inch scuare that is all marked up and taped over. The rest of my breast gets a bath and I still apply the aloe vera -, skin feels like leather but does not look too bad. Knock on wood, no oozing or open sores visible.

I too have some deep breast pain and stabbing pains that come and go, mild nausea, as far as I have read from other posts, it's normal after rads. I take an over the counter travel sickness med called Meclizine HCI 25 mg daily that my doc recommended both for nausea and for the travel I do to get to treatment daily. Seems to help me.

I will be done on friday the 13th, Freakie ?  I hope not. Actually I consider the # 13 a lucky number, so I am ok with that. Now I can concentrate on getting the darn sciatica taken care of, then on to the dreaded next step, reclast and femara. Still sitting on the fence on those 2 issues, but will have to make up my mind before too long, see the surgeon and med. onc both in 2 weeks and they want to start asap. I have to deal with one thing at a time, I am such a whoooz when it comes to pain, and when a drug has side effects I always seem to be able to get them all. grrrrrrr.

Next post I promise will be better, wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I do have thing to say Thanks for.

Take care you all

dsgirl

Hi All~

Do you all know that this week is Radiation Therapist Week?  I found out today when I saw bunches of balloons at my center.  I am definitely taking some cupcakes to my girls...they are so very good to me.  I know that many of you are fond of your staff, so I thought you would like to know.

Thank you all for being there.  I don't chime in much, but I really do appreciate all of your posts.  It seriously helps...This whole thing can feel so lonely and isolating.  Like one of the other ladies had said "when you are alone on that cold metal table"...It is very good to know that there is understanding among us.  Thank you. 

Joysbee--when your ejection fraction falls it means your heart's efficiency is falling.  It isn't pumping blood as well as it was at first. They do a MUGA or echocardiogram to monitor this while we are on Herceptin.  It is reversible but it means you have to back off the Herceptin.  

Jaelsne--I have to agree.  This is day 24/33 and I have been a wreck for a week.  I discovered they were nuking some of my lymphnodes--without telling me--and I went ballistic.  My rads doc is a #$%& and told me I could deal with it or leave.  Nice!   Now I am just focused on getting the heck done with this phase of treatment and finding a different rads doc for follow up.  Can't trust this one.

When I told my treatment team how I felt about rads--how hard it was to lay alone on that table everyday--they took it personally.  I KNOW many of us feel bad about rads, but my treatment people are apparently in denial.  Well, your doc is right.  Getting support thru therapy, friends, family, spiritual resources is very important to get us thru all of these changes. 

Sopris - so sorry your rads people are so insensitive.  Sounds like they need to get into another line of work.  Deal with it or leave - WTF?! 

Lisa - I'm so sad to hear that your spirit has changed.  I hear you on not wanting to talk to your family about it. I find myself making comments and after I start talking, I think, "I shouldn't be saying this to them..."  I hope the long walks do help.  It's going to take some time to process all that we've been through. 

((((((((Everyone))))))))))) 

Hi everybody.  I have a question.  I am nearly complete with my radiation - 2 more boosts and done.  I haven't really experienced the fatigue that I hear so much about - until yesterday.  Has anyone had the fatigue hit at the end and how long will it take to go away.

Also, the skin under my breast and under my arm pit is so sore, red, peeling.  They are having me use Aquaphor and Neosporyn.  How long does it take for the soreness to clear up and the skin to heal?

ME DONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HOORAY!!!!!!

Joni