November Rads 2009

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  • Niknak0320
    Niknak0320 Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2009

    KQuigley - ((HUGS))  I think it's just "that time" for us to be broken down and feeling this way.  My fatigue has really set in over the past several days...and depression has been creeping in on my too!  I decided to wait on Tamoxifen until after rads...I figured I just wanted to deal with one thing at a time and both oncologists said that it wouldn't matter.

     Becky - you are getting so close to done :)  Glad things are going well!  I keep telling people that it looks like my armpit has been sunbathing in Aruba while the rest of my body is in the North Pole! LOL

    Lauren - my prayers and thoughts are with you as you get this MRI ((HUGS))

    Sparrow - how's your arm feeling?  I was stretching this afternoon while laying on the floor and I swear my ROM has changed even since yesterday!  I'm not a happy camper but other than massage/stretching I don't think there is anything else to do for it :(

    Well ladies I'm off to my apopinment - I started the booster sessions yesterday (out of the normal order) and will have #2 of 5 this afternoon. 

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited December 2009

    Hi ladies

    I had #13/33 today and so far so good. I learned the other day that of the 33, 8 will be boosts, so I am almost half done with the regular rads.

    I think the machine they use on me must be ancient. I've read about others where it all seems computerized and automated. I get 4 zaps from different positions, and the techs have to come in after each one and move the machine and/or table around. Hope it still works!!!

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  • Janets1
    Janets1 Member Posts: 57
    edited December 2009
    Hi Lauren:
    Sorry to hear you are having dizziness which is always a miserable feeling. I think these docs get "test happy" and overdo these things. I was feeling nauseous at my treatment this morning and was afraid to say anything because I thought I might end up in the gastrointestinal department! Sure enough, it passed. I'll bet it's the combination of all you've been through, which sounds like a lot. But you may as well go for the test and put your mind at ease.....knowing that they just LOVE giving tests and it's most likely something temporary and not a problem. And certainly preferable to a doctor who brushes you and your feelings off.  Keep us posted!
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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited December 2009
    Lauren, I had alot of dizziness during chemo I don't know how far out from chemo you are, also sometimes when I am very fatigued I feel a little lightheaded. I agree with Janets1 you will need these scans anyway, try to just think of it as getting one of your scans over with. I'll be thinking about you, let us know what happens. We "all" know these scans no matter what are stressfull.
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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited December 2009

    Sparrow - That absolutely sucks about the waiting. I go to a small town cancer center for rads and have never had to wait more than 5 to 10 minutes. I also have seen only like 4 different people throughout the whole thing and they were all people also getting rads. Hope you don't have to wait that long ever again, just makes a person so much more anxious.

    KQuigley - I also had a meltdown when I got about as far as you are in treatments. Hang in there, you will get there. I only have tomorrow left so I know you can get there too.

    EngTchr - Do you usually tan in the sun or burn? I am a burn person.

    Lauren3 - I am praying that everything is okay with the brain MRI. I never had one to begin with either as I explained to them that the headaches I had were the same ones I always had for the last 5 years from fibromyalgia. I do have days through this where I am getting headaches but thank goodness not many of them. It seems to be when I started the boosts this week my headaches got worse. I see my onc in January and if I still get them then I will ask for a brain MRI also.

    Hang in there everyone, I made it down to 1 to go (tomorrow) so I know you all can get there too!

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited December 2009
    Sparrow, I too only have to wait about 5 minutes before rads, in and out in 10-15 minutes. The first time I got rads I arrived early of course nervous and I had to wait an hour and I'm sure drove the lady next to me nuts with questions. Does it hurt? How long does it take? Do you burn? Is the wait always this long? It was terrible, I feel for you! I never see more than 2 people now the person coming out when I arrive and the person going in when I'm done. Do you go in the afternoon or morning? I go at 1:40 in the afternoon. I have heard that sometimes the later in the day the more of a wait.
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  • debnyc
    debnyc Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2009

    Lucky me. I go in at 3:15. The machine broke down yesterday and I waited an hour and 20 minutes before it was fixed. I knew something was wrong when I arrived because the outside waiting room was full. They came out and announced that the tech and physicist were working on it and it would be fixed within the hour. I relaxed and read my book while I waited. So happy I brought a book.

    Today was 17/33. Yea!!!!! I'm more than halfway done Cool

    My left boob is now a different ethnicity than the rest of me. Looks so bizarre, and, it's shrinking. But, if it reduces my chance of local recurrence by 40%, bring it!

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  • Niknak0320
    Niknak0320 Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2009

    Hey ladies!  I am thoroughly exhausted today but I made myself goto the gym after rads and I'm glad I did :)  I showered when I got home and when I applied my Biofine I noticed that my armpit is peeling now and looks like there is a little blister or two :(

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  • Sparrow
    Sparrow Member Posts: 262
    edited December 2009

    Niknak, glad your arm (range of motion) is getting better!  :)  Ugh, sorry about the blisters!  :(  I found some yoga shows on cable TV.  It helps a little bit but the pain is still there.  I bet it will get better after rads is over.  Really, 5 weeks goes by so quickly but when you're not even half way through rads it drags and drags....  ;)  #10 down, 15 or 18 to go depending on who you ask.  :)

    Buccaneersdj, I usually have to wait about 15-20 minutes.  I think one of the machines was down that day. I had my treatment in a different room with a different machine  I had #10 today.   I'm just starting to get pink... and tired too.  No burning yet but I'm pretty sore.  I only waited in the patients waiting room a couple of times in the beginning and it was always full.  My time is 3:30. It seems like there are a lot of older people there at that time. I guess they remind me of my mom and I just tear up.  I'm so emotional lately!  Undecided

    Today I walked into the rads room without my sleep mask on!  :D  I put it on as soon as I got on the couch, though.  ;)  My rad tech was so proud of me.  Hooray for small victories!  ;) 

    Deb, I'm so glad you're more than half way done!  :D   Whew!!!  I bet a year from now we'll all be wondering what the big deal was.  May we never be in this situation again!!!  :D

    I read somewhere on this forum about laying a washcloth  soaked in 10% apple cider vinegar on the rads breast after treatment for 10-15 minutes.  It's supposed to reduce the pinkness and help you feel better.  I haven't tried it yet but I think I might do that tomorrow.  My rad onc gave me the hairy eyeball when I asked her about it, but she said it wouldn't hurt anything. I am going to give it a try.  I'll let you know how it goes.  :)

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited December 2009

    I'm only about 6 weeks out from chemo.  I started rads very soon after I was done.  And I did get VERY dizzy with each chemo. 

    I have to add that I have never had less headaches in my life than I do right now, knock on wood.  I'm sure it's because my headaches were always related to my menstral cycle. 

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  • Sparrow
    Sparrow Member Posts: 262
    edited December 2009

    Big hugs to you, Lauren!!!

    I did #11 today.  I walked into the room without my mask like a normal person for the second time.  :D

    My female rads tech is 'rotating' back to the main hospital Monday-  ugh!!!  She has been SO wonderful and supportive.  I'm sure her replacement will be OK.  I already miss her, though!  :(  If it wasn't for her I don't think I could have gotten through this at all...  *sigh*   :(

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited December 2009

    I am done with rads, last one today. What a feeling being done with everything but once every 3 week herceptin. Yahoo!    I made it and you all can get there too!

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  • EngTchr
    EngTchr Member Posts: 184
    edited December 2009

    Congrats on the last one, Blondie45!  What will you do next week with all your new free time? 

     You asked me yesterday whether I tan or burn in the sun.  I rarely burn, unless I overdo it early in the summer.  I'm not sure if radiation acts the same way as the sun as far as those who tan and those who burn.  My breasts haven't tanned much, but the skin under my armpits is very dark.  Doesn't hurt, but itches sometimes a little.  For the most part I've found rads to be pretty much SE free--much, much easier than chemo!

    Sparrow, good for you in conquering your fear!   This whole experience is toughening us up, isn't it!

    Becky

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  • GrannyRomaine
    GrannyRomaine Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2009

    I am not sure. I did not have any positive nodes.  I had a Lumpectomy and 6 weeks of Radiation..

    I have two more treatments I will be taking Femara for 5 years.  My skin is beginning to break down in certain areas.I have a new compund to use.

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  • GrannyRomaine
    GrannyRomaine Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2009

    I am not sure. I did not have any positive nodes.  I had a Lumpectomy and 6 weeks of Radiation..

    I have two more treatments i will be taking Femara for 5 years.  My skin is beginning to break down in certain areas.I have a new compund to use.

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  • cheers247
    cheers247 Member Posts: 270
    edited December 2009

    Hi Blondie, I had lymphnode biopsys before surgery, and had many more than two positive before chemo... PET/CT.   Had 5 mos chemo before surgery, at surgery there were 2/21 nodes pos. and some cancer cells found in chest wall... so technically stage IV. 

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited December 2009

    Anna - how are you doing with swallowing? Like many others I am having the clavicle area radiated (14/33) and wondered how common this is? Let us know how you are doing.

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  • jillincc
    jillincc Member Posts: 9
    edited December 2009

    Hi.  Started my rads on November 19.  The simulation was uncomfortable for me, as I have had cervical neck surgeries.  Treatments are going well.  I started off with 6 freckled tatts, but have since added 5 more, since I have a tape allergy.  Right now we are down 10, with 25 txs to go.  I have a question......if a chest xray is minimal exposure, how many chest xrays does one radiation treatment equal?

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  • Niknak0320
    Niknak0320 Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2009

    It's Monday...how is everyone doing??

    Just think...this is the beginning to another week that we can cross OFF of 2009 :)

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited December 2009

    5 more rads to go!

    So I went for my MRI this morning and after waiting an hour in the waiting room (not to mention my husband stayed home from work to take care of our son and I spent the whole weekend worrying) they told me I couldn't have it done because of my tissue expander!  How frustrating!

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  • debnyc
    debnyc Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2009

    omg Lauren! that really sucks!!!! Your doctor who prescribed the MRI should have known better. Shame on them for putting you through the extra stress. But on the bright side, yea! You only have 5 more to go. I still have l4 and just found out the rads center is open on Christmas Eve. Boo!

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  • Sparrow
    Sparrow Member Posts: 262
    edited December 2009

    Aaaargh!!!  Lauren, how awful!  > :P  5 more to go seems like an impossible dream to me.  Hang in there, baby!  :)

    They were training a new tech so  everything took twice as long today.  She came in the room half way through with no warning and started talking to me.  I didn't see her, I had my sleep mask on and it startled me so badly that they had to reposition me, I practically jumped off the table. Then they re-drew a couple of my sharpie Xs and peeled the old stickers off-  Owww!

    Hehe, my muffler came loose at the back end in the parking deck (damn speed bumps!) So I had to tie it back on with some rope I found in the trunk.  I had to stop by the store on the way home with my hands all black from muffler grease.  >:( 

     Happy Monday!  ;)

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  • Niknak0320
    Niknak0320 Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2009

    Lauren - how terrible that the MRI people are idiots!  Were you able to schedule a different test?  Or are you feeling better?

    Deb - 14 will fly by in no time!  I know it sucks that they are open on holidays but at least it won't push you back another day!

    Sparrow - I'm sorry you got scared shitless on the table!  And that sucks about the muffler!  I backed into a pole last week in the parking deck outside of rads! 

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited December 2009

    I'll talk to the RO tomorrow.  I am guessing it's a CT scan next.  I'm not exactly feeling better but I really think I explained my symptoms wrong.  It's less dizzy than it is goofy.  I almost feel like I'm drugged.  But I guess in a way I am.  Between the chemo making it's way out of my system, the Tamoxifin, Lupron and rads, what did I expect right???  Oh and running after a 2 year old all day.  Sigh.  I just want to put this all behind me!

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  • Niknak0320
    Niknak0320 Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2009

    sort of like "medicine head" Lauren?  I feel like I'm out of it sometimes but not necessarily in a drugged way...That's one reason I decided to hold off on the Tomoxifen.  What exactly is the Lupron for?  Are you doing daily injections of it?  I have done both daily Lupron injections and the DepoLupron injection for IVF and it made me bitchy! LOL

    I have my last boost today...then it's back to finishing my last 7 treatments.  My armpit has peeled so I hope it heals up enough to not blister when I go back to the regular fields <sigh>

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  • mom2acat
    mom2acat Member Posts: 556
    edited December 2009

    I have been on Lupron since Feb. 2004, because my oncologist wanted me in menopause because my cancer is estrogen positive. I don't give myself the injections though, I get them in the office once every 3 months.

    I finished the rads to my hip last Tuesday; today I saw my regular oncologist; my tumor marker is finally going down! Still higher than normal, but much improved now.

    Now I have to wait and find out if I will also need rads to the spine; I am getting an MRI of the spine on Friday, and next week I see the radiation oncologist again.

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  • Sparrow
    Sparrow Member Posts: 262
    edited December 2009
    Aw, Niknak, sorry about the pole!  BTW, love your pic, you're such a cutie!  :)
     
    Lauren, I thought about you today when I got off the table and was suddenly very dizzy.  I haven't taken Xanax or any anti-anxiety meds since Friday (I'm too tired to be anxious anymore) so it wasn't that. I'm thinking it was because I loaded up on coffee today & forgot to eat.  There's a first time for everything...  ;)
     
    It's funny you said 'goofy'.  That's how I described how I started feeling this weekend to my DH, tired and goofy.
     
    Best of luck, mom2acat!  I hope you are done!!! 
     

    13 down, 12 to go...

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited December 2009

    Niknak - I don't exactly know what Medicine Head is but it sounds about right LOL.  The Lupron is once a month (I go for my injection tomorrow as a matter of fact) and it's to shut my ovaries down without having to actually remove them.  I try not to think what I'm actually doing since this was right around the time we were going to start trying for baby #2.  Frown 

    Sparrow - I actually started feeling goofy right around the same time - about halfway through rads.  We may be on to something here.  We'll have to add "goofiness" the list of side effects ha ha.

    Mama2acat - great news about your tumor markers going down!  I will pray they continue that way.  May I ask what % your ER was?  I am having monthly Lupron injections and I'm wondering if I get them more often b/c I was a higher percentage?  I don't know that much about it so I'm just mostly curious.  I am 88%.

    I had a CT scan today in place of the MRI and the tech said he didn't see anything.  Praying that he knows what he's talking about and that the radiologist confirms there's nothing to worry about.

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  • amlg1
    amlg1 Member Posts: 596
    edited December 2009

    gillyone..Thank You for asking,I still do have trouble with my swallowing,I think I am getting used to it ,I just eat slow and chew real good.I lost a little weight(good),but the Dr.told me no more than 5 lbs,because they would have to set me up all over.I am getting a special kind of rad.IMRT,because of so many nodes involved.This problem will go away.Good Luck,you should be fine.

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  • Niknak0320
    Niknak0320 Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2009

    So my 5 boosts are DONE!  Now tomorrow will be 18 of 25 :)  RO gave me silvadene cream to apply but she mentioned something about wiping it off before treatment since it contains silver...would it work to just make sure I apply it "x" hours before treatment?  I might have to call there tomorrow for more specific directions.

    mom2acat - congrats again for finishing and for the tumor markers going DOWN!  I'll be thinking of you on Friday when you have your scan, hang in there!

    Sparrow - congrats for moving OVER the half way hump : )

    Lauren - I'm glad the MRI seemed to go well and show nothing!  Let us know for sure when you get confirmation  So the Lupron to shut down your ovaries, is that as "birth control"?  I am 99% ER positive and they have not suggested Lupron to me.  Could it be because my husband had a vastectomy?

    Those of you going in to offices to get your Lupron shots...have you considered asking the staff to allow you to take an injections class so that you can give the injection to yourself in your own home?  It's really easy!

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