January 2010 Rads Start

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Welcome Cookie, let me guess you are going to Sloan!

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  • Scoobydoo
    Scoobydoo Member Posts: 499
    edited December 2009

    Hi Rad ladies.

    Please add me to this group.  I will be starting rads towards the end of January.  My last chemo tx is on 12/28.  I meet with my rad onco a little after that. 

    Hi Onty, 1L and Sido.  Glad to see some familiar names, and looking forward to meeting new ladies who are going through rads.

    Anita

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  • DebbieSawyer
    DebbieSawyer Member Posts: 133
    edited December 2009

    Hi everyone! May I join your group? My radiation starts January 5th. No axilla. No clavicle. Supine (face up) position. Canadian Fraction 16 rads...and NO boosts! YIPPEE!

    Looking at the list at the top of the page, I'm surprized to see so many getting radiated prone. Is that the more common position?

    I had my rads SIM today, and it was a piece of cake!  My rads dr, his staff, and the techs, were wonderful: respectful (covering me up when needed), communicative (talked to me and explained everything during the process), and friendly (asked me a little about myself, job, interests, etc). Table was VERY comfortable, ergonomically correct, arm rests were a soft foam material, like those foam pads you put on top of a mattress. I could have gone to sleep. The room was cool, and felt good when a hot flash hit. And the three extremely small tattoos didn't hurt, nor can I barely even see them. Entire CT procedure took about 30 minutes. After meeting the staff and going through the SIM, I feel much better about the process; I mean I'm not happy about getting radiated, but at least the techs are trying to make it as comfortable as possible. Since my second lumpectomy/re-excision took out a lot of clean tissue, my rads dr said I didn't need the Standard radiation, or boosts. What a relief!  My first rad tx will be January 05. Hate to wait that long, but the holidays mess up the schedule, and the radiation treatment center was booked full this month. (sad)

    I've read every post from Oct/Nov/Dec Rads threads....I feel ready for any SE!  My big concern is burning. But I'll be drinking that medicinal glass of red wine every single weekday to compensate!

    Cheers! 

    Debbie

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  • LISAA401
    LISAA401 Member Posts: 130
    edited December 2009

    UNKLE-SCOOBY DOO and all other ladies I found you here we go! count me in. Love Lisa

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    I haven't checked in for a while because I don't have much information yet, but wanted to say hello and nice to meet you................ Tomorrow is my last chemo and I'll ask the onc about getting my first rad appt scheduled and about getting the port out. I'm hoping to have more information soon.

    Jenn

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Debbie,

    Ask your onco why you should not get rads in face down (prone) position. The risk of exposure to lungs  (and heart if left side) is more with face up (supine).

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  • DebbieSawyer
    DebbieSawyer Member Posts: 133
    edited December 2009

    Hi unklezwifeonty; Thanks, I will ask. My bc is on the left. Dang, that's a question I should have thought to ask. Wonder why prone isn't the normal position if it does limit the risk of exposure?

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited December 2009

    hey again, simulation not so bad, I can live with the tat's. A whole group from Dana Farber was there to observe my simulation. It was odd watching a whole group lean over to look at my boob!

    But I am on my way.

    Next app is on Christmas Eve for the "rehearsal?"

    Fa la la la la

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited December 2009

    hey again, simulation not so bad, I can live with the tat's. A whole group from Dana Farber was there to observe my simulation. It was odd watching a whole group lean over to look at my boob!

    But I am on my way.

    Next app is on Christmas Eve for the "rehearsal?"

    Fa la la la la

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Welcome Jenn, Lisa, Scoobydoo.



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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    Hello Toyah, another Texas Sister.  Where are you getting your treatments.  I go to Hugley.  I will do my last chemo on 12/24 and the Onc office is going to make my appointment with the Rad Onc.  I have also had a consult, but I think the doctor that I saw is no longer there, or will be leaving soon.  Glad you have joined us.

    Welcome Jenn, Debbie and Lisa

    Scoobydoo, glad you have joined us. 

    I hope my simulation goes as good as everyone has described.  I am a red head, so I am expecting some burning and blistering.  I will just have to wait and see how it goes. 

    Onty good evening to you, hope everything is well with you.

    Juannelle

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    thanks 1L,

    I'm doing fine these days. Waiting for chemo #7 early next week.... 

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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    Onty,

    I see that you only have 2 treatments left, woohoo.  What day do you get your tx next week?  Mine is on 12/24 and I will be finished, YEA.

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  • mommy2two
    mommy2two Member Posts: 130
    edited December 2009
    One-L - I am getting my treatments at Texas Oncology in Fort Worth.  I live right down the road from Hugley..will you be having your rads there also?  I see you are almost done with chemo so congrats on that but I hate that you have to have it on Christmas Eve.  I hope you will still be able to enjoy the holidays!
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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    1L, I am getting it on Monday. Good luck for your XMas eve treatment. Don't forget cookies for the nurses!

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  • Jillilene
    Jillilene Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2009

    Hi Folks - I begin radiation on Jan. 4 and just had my "mapping" today.  I finished my 6th (and final) round of chemotherapy on 12/11.  I am glad to find this thread to stay connected as we move through a similar radiation schedule.  Let me see if I can answer Unklezwifeonty on the questions she posed:

    28 rounds of radiation to the chest wall, axilla and clavicle on the left only, face-up, no boosts. I have a reconstructed breast (immediate DIEP reconstruction) after a single mastectomy; surgery was 6/29.  I was told that because there is "no breast tissue per se,"  I will not have any boosts.

    As a small and simple (and rather silly) reward program, I bought myself stickers to put on my calendar every day of radiation, and little stars to stick on when I exercise.  I'm hoping my energy continues to return after chemo, and holds on through radiation.  It does feel like a long journey sometimes.

    One step at a time, we keep moving forward!

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  • Sido
    Sido Member Posts: 234
    edited December 2009

    Welcome Toyah and Cookiegal! 

    I wish my onco had been more positive about the Canadian because I'm sick to death of doctor's appointments, but everyone raves about her and I like her a lot, so I'm stuck with the usual drill.  Shortening anything about my treatments would have been great though.

    1-L, my sister is in a similar circumstance with exercise.  She works brutal hours with a long commute and sometimes it seems that fitness has to wait for retirement (which for her isn't that far away).  But we can just do what we can and hope it helps.  The last thing you need is more pressure.

    Be well, Sido

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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    mommy2two, I started this journey with my GYN in Cleburne and when I was diagnosed with BC he sent me to a surgeon at Hugley.  I have had dealings with Hugley before and have always been happy with my care there.  Anyway, after my surgery, he recommended the Med Onc there.  I am very happy with her and the staff, had my doubts at first, but it all worked out.  I always feel good for two or three days after chemo, so I am banking on that.  I would like to enjoy part of the holidays, so I figured I would be sick no matter what, but may feel better toward the end of the week for New Years.  That is the plan anyway.

    Onty, I will have to wait and see about the cookies.  They will probably have more than they can eat anyway, since it is a holiday.  I might get around to baking some.  Since you hare having a tx Monday, I hope you feel like  enjoying the holidays.  Hope you have mild  SEs.

    Jillilene, you are jumping off right at the first of the year.  You should be the first  to get  started.  We will  all depend on your experience to guide the rest of us through.  Good luck to you.  My Onc is gong to make  my appointment to see the Rad Onc, so I am hoping that it will be the first  week of January.

    Sido, you are right, we can only do what we have the energy for and that does not include much exercise these days.  I have been trying to move around more, but on days I work it  is just impossible.  I wanted to retire when I was 62, but it looks like  that  has changed to 65.  Which means 5 more years.  On my.

    Wishing everyone a great weekend, relax, shop and enjoy.

    Juannelle

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Jillilene, welcome!

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited December 2009

    For what it's worth at MSK they are all about the Canadian. Infact they book you for that automatically.

    So if you want to do it, I would not be worried.

    In my research I have found that the Canadian has a tiny medical advantage and a tiny SE downside, but less than 1%.My mom who is a former statistician agrees it's a toss up.

    If I was a tad older I would go for it.

    My med onc said since they only have research going back 12 years, and I am 42, I might be better off with the traditional.

    But this is also because I walk to the hospital and I am unemployed. If I wanted 16 he would have been fine with it. (Maybe he just thought the exercise would be good for me!)

    It will be interesting being at the hospital on Xmas eve. I am hoping it's quiet. 

    I do wish MSK could have rads in the breast center, oh well.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Cookie,

    Is your medical oncologist also from MSK?

    You are right that 1% difference is a toss up. For me 12 years data from Canadian trials is good enough. I am TNBC and Grade 3, so my highest recurrence chances are in the first 3 years.

    Yes, the radiation oncologist in MSK Basking Ridge NJ told me that MSK NY is pro-Canadian but she would do traditional for me if thats what I wanted. My clincher was "would you recommend this if it were your sister?" and she said absolutely.

    In the end, the convenience of getting done 12 days sooner.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited December 2009

    yep

    I also tend to obsess about se's. I know I get a very bad rash from tanning beds, so I was worried my skind would have more problems with the stronger rads.

    That is based on nothing but my own paranoia btw.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Yeah there is that 1% difference in side effects also with Canadian. Not significant but if you are the obsessing kind, it is probably better to stay with the tried and tested approach.

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  • grama5
    grama5 Member Posts: 81
    edited December 2009

    Hi Ladies; I guess it's time to introduce myself. My tumor was at 6 oclock on the rt. breast, 1.5cm w/ only less than 1mm cancer cells the rest DCIS. Because of that I dodged the chemo bullet. Hooray! I met w/ my rads onco on the 17th and he said 6 1/2 weeks, 30 w/ 3 boosts. Having read up on these posts I asked him why so long when I had so little cancer. He didn't explain canadian versus traditional, just said every one was different and that is what he wants for me.Radiation scares me, I know I have to do this but the cost is scaring me too. I'm on medicare and secure horizons medicare complete. Any insight ladies? I go in on the 22nd for the ct scan setup and markers and will start rads after New Years.I like this thread where we all will be going through this at the same time. I'll keep reading for now and post after my appt. on the 22nd. Glad to meet all of you and talk to you soon.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Grama5,

    Welcome! You are lucky to have found the beast soon and to escape the chemo bullet.

    I think you are getting 25 base rads and 5 boosts. This is the minimum duration with the standard radiation once they decide to give the boost to the tumor bed.

    Re: Standard vs. Canadian: they are both viable treatment options. The Canadian is looking equally promising (same efficacy, same side effects) as the standard with 12 years of data available from the Canadian study. The main advantage from the patient's view is that it is done quicker. But not all radiation oncologists are on-board with that program. I am going with the Canadian fraction. My radiation oncologist from Sloan Kettering very nicely explained the pros and cons of all the options to me and absolutely unconditionally recommended the Canadian for me when I asked if she would do that for her sister. She even mentioned that MD Anderson as a hospital does not favor the Canadian fraction while Sloan does!

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  • grama5
    grama5 Member Posts: 81
    edited December 2009

    Hi unklezwife;

    Thanks for responding. No he dfinitely said 30 plus 3 boosts.I go in tomorrow for the set up and will ask more questions. When I was in there for the consult I didn't have any knowledge about the two and have found all of my team tending toward the tried and true. My surgeon will not do the mamosite divice, even though she has the training, because it is still in the trial phase. Good or bad for me???? Talk more later, got to get to work.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Grama,

    I don't know about mammosite. Once I heard about Canadian fraction I admit I just latched on to it!

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited December 2009

    mamosite is an option for node negatives. I would have love to have had the mobetron during my surgery, but they did not have on in NY.

    Choices Choices

    So if I start on 12/29 what should my finish date be with traditional?

    I think my start date is wrong on the first post.

    Happy Holidays!

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    CookieGal,



    Thanks for the info re mammosite. I shall ask hubby dear to look this up.



    Just so I'm clear - on 12/29 do you begin rads or get scanned or have simulation? When is your first rad?



    I'm guessing you will end 6 weeks from the first rad + a couple of days for holidays like President's day if the radiation facility is closed that day.





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  • Kim09
    Kim09 Member Posts: 100
    edited December 2009

    Well it looks like I will be starting my rads on January 4.  I got measured today and received my tatoos and will have a dry run on the 30th.  The rad onc wanted to start next Monday but I told him I was going on vacation to Florida starting Wednesday.  I'm scheduled for 28 treatments in the supine position and the area includes the axillia.  He explained that the exposure will be angled so it doesn't hit the lung straight on. 

    The only thing that can change this start date is if the surgeon has a problem with the date.  I seemed to have gotten ahead of myself meeting with the rad onc before the surgeon officially released me (I had my bi-laterial mastectomy on Nov 30).  Luckily I was already scheduled to meet with him tomorrow so I will check to see if this is a problem.  The radiation techs said just call them if the date needs to be pushed back. 

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