SEPTEMBER 2009 RADS

I had my weekly visit with RadOnc on the third day of rads, so I just asked how much of my lung was getting zapped.  He had the plain film x-rays right there and they were all marked up, and he had the pages of their computations also.  So he checked those and told me of the 20%. I don't know if he would have made any adjustments if I hadn't been so appalled at the 20%.

I also got the "talk" about "won't notice unless you plan to run a Marathon."   I've mentioned before that they all must get together at their conventions to come up with what seem to be their patent phrases.  Anyway, his other explanation was that although a portion of lung takes damage, the other part of the lung is able to compensate to become more efficient over time.  I don't know whether this has actually been studied.  Injured muscle does that all the time though, with healing and therapy.  I have heard that the damage to the lung is visible on future chest x-rays, so it might look suspicious to a doctor not knowing you had radiation.

Finally, now a month after finishing rads, I do have a dry cough BUT it may be from a hellacious 3-wk. sore throat virus I'm just getting over and totally unrelated to rads.

p.s. They call them blocks, those little lead plates in the radiation machine that are adjusted by the computer program that they set up for your treatment area.  I should also mention that I had 3D-conformal radiation, but some women on here (mostly "lefties" I think) got IMRT (tomotherapy) and that is supposed to be helpful in avoiding more of the heart/lung area/

Christy, thanks.

Elimar, yeah that marathon phrase must be taught at a pharma sponsored  convention :-)

All, FYI my tumor was @3 o'clock on my left breast.

minevicp..love your logo!    You are very positive...don't care what other people think..positive is a good way to go....

unklezwifeonty-- I had double mastectomys for a right sided bc --smally 1cm tumor ( multifocol) I had 30 nodes removed with 2  positive--my tumor was also on the inner aspect of my breast and even though it was very small the sentinal node was very enlarged-- I had chemo and was told i did not need rads by my surgeon and was in a gray zone with all the other doctors-- i was given a choice of all rads--rads without the nodes ( just the breast) or nothing-- I chose rads of everything--my onc infusion nurses said when I mentioned i to them said to do everything I can!!! i am at risk for lymphedema and although I had implants at the time of surgery my one implant is not great and my PS said it couldnt be fixed after rads --oh well --I agree with minevicp I needed to do everything for my own peace of mind--you just have to be comfortable with your decision-- I kept a lot of lotions and silvedene and cold compresses on and I didnt have bad reactions some burning very little peeling and kept it on even for 2 weeks after I was done-- it is now 4 weeks post rads and the skin looks fine -- I am still tired though and that takes time to go away--I struggled with my decision for rads for several weeks but now feel I have done what I could do. hope you find peace in your decision-- stay strong--Laura

Is anyone out there still tired.  Been doing alot everyday and feeling somewhat tired, but last night went to a Doobie Brothers concert.  Today, I am so wiped out, I feel sick.  I have sat in my recliner with a blanket and slept all day.  I'm about 6 or 7 weeks post rad.  The other thing, the more I jumped around, the more my breast hurt.  Course, ya think it could be my age?  I think my "wild" days are over.     

I never had much fatigue with chemo and none with rads. But a few weeks after rads, I got really tired.  I wonder if it was from the Tamox which I just started. But i really think it is because I feel so much better and am so happy to have chemo and rads behind me that I am DOING a lot more and THAt is making me tired. I am back at the gym, my calendar is filling up with NON MEDICAL things (how awesome is that?) and I am much more active. And then after some busy days, I am worn out. So I am not worrying as much about exactly why, but am pacing myself a bit more, leaving room for down-time and just enjoying being back to life, whether it is completely at full speed or not.

Hey elimar...don't have any answers to your questions..just saying hi!   I have a shooting pain in my breast now and then...freaks me out..My BS said my right breast was filled with "junk"..just lovely..but it looks OK from the outside...

Betsy..what are you doing in January?  We have to push somewhat because of Thanksgiving and all the Holidays...what fun!  I don't know...so much to be thankful for this year...especially you guys too!

Betsy..I had my eyebrows waxed!  The hair designer asked if she could do them and I thought what the heck...I was freaking a little..thinking that the remaining eyebrows would fall out..but so far so good!

Does anyone have any problems sleeping?  I thought I was good to go but I still wake up now and then..still have some of those darn hot flashes....yuk.

I'm a couple weeks out from rads and have occasional shooting zings where I was radiated. I wonder if it is nerve tissue connecting, they say it takes about a year after surgery for it all to mend and maybe the rads aggravated it? Who knows at this point, eh?

Is anyone struggling with water retention? My legs and feet continue to be puffed and swollen. I stopped the diuretics they had me on because they really didn't seem to do anything. 

Ok..I have junk..the rest of you have fluid...and whatever...what a group we are!   I bet you all have some junk in your trunk too..I can't be the only one!

It is so weird...I used to keep track of how many weeks from chemo and rads I was but now it isn't even important...

I'm watching the Wizard of OZ right now...that wicked witch is really, really GREEN!  Scary stuff!

Weird! I have Wizard of Oz on right now too!

 Speaking of witches, I saw the neatest shirt the other day.  It said, "If the broom fits, ride it."  Wanted to buy it for someone, but, I'm trying to be more positive these days.  But, it would have been a good one.

Thanks!

Kawee..you wouldn't be talking about your mom in law would you?  Do they have two???

Christy...is that you flipping off the treatment room????  I love it! 

I think our little group of rad ladies are getting a little frisky here...I love it!

It does do a number on you!   If I sit in a car for a long time I feel like I will stay in that position and I scream when I have to get out of the car to walk it off...if I sit at work too long it's the same way...but then again I can go and walk/run 2 miles..don't feel it a bit but then can hardly get out of the car when we get home..go figure!