January 2010 Rads Start

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

    Kim,

    Welcome to the January rads thread. Will your clavicle be also radiated?

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

    Simulation was 12/17, "check" is 12/24, 1st tx is 12/29.

    Gives a new meaning to New Year's Eve" toast!"Undecided

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

    Thanks Cookie. You and Sido are the earliest ones so we will be looking forward to some juicy details from you on your consults, simulations, checks and setups, etc.

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  • Kim09
    Kim09 Member Posts: 100
    edited December 2009

    I don't believe mine includes the clavical.  The clavicall was just outside the area the onc drew.  I will be having my dry run on the 30th.  I just meet with the Surgeon today and he officially has handed me over to the rad onc. 

    I am off to Florida to have some fun time before the radition starts.

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

    Have fun in Florida.



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

    Kim, that is exactly what I am doing. Going to Miami 12/25-12/28!

    Where are you headed?

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  • kmf
    kmf Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2009

    I med w/Rad. onco today. I really like her.  I will have 33 treatments.  Don't know about a boost or not.  I go back tomorrow for mapping, simulation on Mon. and treatments start Tues.  She is starting me quickly because I have a trip to Jamaica Feb. 14th. By starting next Tues., if I don't miss any, I will finish on Fri. the 12th.  I'm hoping for no snow/ice storms for the next 6 weeks!  I'll claw my way to treatment to make that plane!  I'm missing a trip to Mex. the end of Jan. so the Feb. trip is extra important now!  I'll find out more details and post when I know more.  Karenanne

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

    KarenAnne,

    Welcome to the January rads thread. You along with 2 others who are starting on December 29th are the earliest starters here! We look forward to your words of wisdom.

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  • grama5
    grama5 Member Posts: 81
    edited December 2009

    HI, I went for the set up today, got my tattoos and CT scan and will be laying on my back w/ right arm over my head. I don't know what you are talking about when you say simulation or dry run. I go in the 4th which I assumed would be the first rads. but she did say the first one, I would be about an hour and after that I'd be in and out in 15 min. I don't think the clavacle is included. What he drew on me it was just my breast and going a ways under my arm. My incision hasn't healed up as much as they would like otherwise I could have started after xmas. I will definately be logging on to see what our early birds have to say.

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

    Thanks for the update Grama5.

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

     Welcome to all of you, we are glad you have joined us.

    All you ladies that are leading the way for us are appreciated.  You should be far enough along in your rads before I start that you will have lots of suggestions for me.

    I am looking forward to hearing from everyone.

    Juannelle

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  • Sido
    Sido Member Posts: 234
    edited December 2009

    Evening Ladies!

    I went in for my staging yesterday.  They made this foam mold of me in "position" that I will lay in every time.  I felt like a stereo packed for shipping.  They them marked me up with giant plus-signs and did the CT scan.  I never saw the doctor and also found out that I may not be starting treatment next week like I thought.  Because of the holiday it is a matter of when the doctors can calibrate the machine and plot the treatment area.  They didn't do any permanent marking yet, but they gave me a pen and asked me to try to fill them in as needed.   I also asked them to show me the actual machine so it would be less scary the first time I go in.  

    I'm wondering also about skin care.  My onco only likes Aquafor (ugh) and won't let me use any type of anti-persperant on that side once treatment begins.  Has anyone heard of something nicer to help protect the skin from burning or anything?  I know I can't use anything 4 hours before treatment, but I burn really easily, and I've also heard that being large breasted can also cause problems.

    Be well ladies and have a wonderful holiday,  Sido

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  • sanaisa
    sanaisa Member Posts: 167
    edited December 2009
    Hi unclezwifeonty (and hello everyone!), I dragged my sorry hiney over here now, from a prior chemo board! Kiss  I will have my consult for the rads on 12/31/09 and we will see what happens.  I am pretty much terrified to do it as I am worried about damage to my heart. I saw on another board in here where a woman's heart was damaged by the rads and her doctor tells her that while her cancer risk is reduced, she is "more likely to die in the future due to heart problems". After reading that, I am pretty much terried.The Herceptin is already taking a toll on the heart and it doesn't help to read that (not the first time I have seen that). Back to the rads...my intial consult last August advised that I was expected to have "whole breast radiation therapy with a boost to the primary".  I don't know the frequency yet...will know more in a week. We will see if she (Radiologist) can talk me into it! Looks like we have several ladies that are starting in December...and some of us starting in January. Okay, here we go into the next level...it's got to be better on this side :)
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  • sanaisa
    sanaisa Member Posts: 167
    edited December 2009

    P.S. unclezwifeonty ... you seem to have all the rads digs...what questions do you recommend I ask the Radiologist?  I didn't know about the "Auxilla" (sounds like Godzilla!) and the Clavicle question...what's that about?  I get the gist about the Canada model...I am liking this suggestion as it reduces the treatment by almost 2 weeks...!

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

    Dear Sido,

    Your description of feeling like a stereo being packed made me smile :-) 

    I have not yet discussed skin care and anti-perspirants with the doctor.

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

    Dear Sanaisa,

    Welcome to the rads group. As usual in our home, my hubby has done a lot of research into rads. I may appear to be knowledgeable but I honestly am not!

    Ask the radiologist about what treatment options are available to you and which one they recommend and why.

    Axilla is the side of the breast extending into the underarm. This is the area from where they removed the 2 lymph nodes during your lumpectomy. Clavicle is the area near the clavicle bone (collar bone). They radiate these areas also usually if more nodes are involved and/or larger lumps. Compared to me, you had less involved nodes and smaller lump size, and my radiation oncologist recommended that I don't get these areas included so I don't think yours would either.

    Usually external radiation is given 5 days a week.

    Yeah do ask your radiation onc about Canadian fraction.

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  • kmf
    kmf Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2009

    My rad/onco recommended showering only w/Dove unscented soap. They will give me Aquafor ( don't know anything about it) and a Rx for stronger if necessary.  My rad/onco is the one that marked me up - I'll be on my back w/arms in rests a little above my head and the machine will shoot the beams from the sides at angles through the breast.  My heart should be out of the way.  A bit of rib cage and a small slice of lung may catch some rays, but she didn't seem too concerned about it.  She is a ball of fire and I like her a lot so I have a lot of confidence in her. She had cancer on her nose, didn't want to go under the knife, so she showed me were she did her own radiation plan -- many yrs. ago and it's ok.  So, if she's good enough for her, she's good enough for me!!  

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

    Dear KarenAnne,

    Good to hear that the planning for rads is going on fine. It is so positive to hear that thew radiation oncologist herself chose to get radiation instead of surgery to her nose. Makes you more confident, doesn't it?

    Did the doc share the rationale for having you lie on your back and not on tummy?

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

    Dear Sanaisa,

    If you are concerned about heart damage from radiation, make sure to tell the radiation oncologist. They use special blocks and angled rays etc to protect the heart and lungs as much as possible. Another thing they can sometimes do is to have you lie on your stomach rather than back.

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  • sanaisa
    sanaisa Member Posts: 167
    edited December 2009

    Thank you sweet unklezwifeonty!  I am going to arm myself with all your questions.  It really helps!  Merry Christmas to you...I hope you are feeling better and that your fevers have subsided.  Best wishes to everyone in here for a wonderful holiday this week and next!

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  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited December 2009

    Hi Gals!  Just wanted to send this post along on this thread!  I completed treatment with the MammoSite device, & everything went very smoothly...If you have any questions, just post them!

    Dec 11, 2009 06:10 am Jeannettes9565 wrote:

      This is the MammoSite Device that I have!  It was implanted during surgery on the 4th, & I started the "treatments" on the 9th.  It is working very well, so far!  It is inserted into the cavity that was left from the Lumpectomy, & about 1/2 of it sticks out, & is held in place under my arm, with that mesh wrap!  Little "seeds" of Radiation are inserted into the "balloon" and stay for 8 minutes, then are taken out.  A "machine" of some sort, slides them through the "chambers" into the tube. The balloon is filled with saline, & the seeds radiate all around the balloon, to hopefully kill any left-over cancer cells.  

     I have a new "prototype" that is pretty new, & it should make it possible for more women to be candidates for this type of Radiation.  Your cancer has to be small enough, & not near the skin or bone structure, & not the aggressive type, & from what I understand, your breast has to be fuller...

    But I am amazed at how far we have come with treatments!  There are web-sites that explain this further, but thought some of you would be interested!   So basically this type of treatment takes 5 days, twice a day, & that's it! 

    So  far, all treatments & tests have come back very positive, with the same results as the longer Rads treatments...If you have any questions, just post them....Have a fun day Gals!

    Don't walk ahead of me, I might not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not want to lead. Just walk beside me & be my friend.
    Diagnosis: 10/26/2009, ILC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- [Edit] [Delete]</td></tr><tr><td>Jeannettes9...
    Att000164
    Denver, Co
    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posts: 53 </td><td>

    Dec 11, 2009 06:14 am Jeannettes9565 wrote:

    http://www.mammosite.com/breast-lumpectomy/view-a-demonstration.cfm

    This is the web-site that shows the MammoSite procedure~  Hope this can help you with any questions!  Jeannette

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

    Good morning wonderful ladies and Merry Christmas.  I hope you all get the presents you have asked for.  I know I did.

    Juannelle 

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

    Dear Jeannette

    Thank you so much for sharing this information.



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

    the "check" was much more uncomfortable than the staging...if you are on your tummy, and you had surgery on the healthy breast...it is pretty akward...they shove that puppy under your armpit.

    8 min will be ok, but it was long.

    PLUS

    they told me to bring an Ipod, so I finally bought music for the unused one I got three years ago, then when I got there they said they had to listen to their I pod not mine!!!!!!

    I mean not a big deal when you are having your life saved, but still!

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

    Dear Cookie,

    I am not able to understand your post hunny, could you please explain check, staging,  puppy, 8 min, ipod, etc.

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  • kmf
    kmf Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2009

    Re: on my back instead of on tummy -- It didn't come up in our conversation. In looking at the equip they just do it that way -- the table is set up for on your back.  The radiation will come from one side and over to the other side so it's all coming in at angles.  For points of reference, imagine that you start out directly overhead of your sternum and that would be at 90 degrees above your chest, then the machine will move right to (approx.) 45 degree angle to my chest shooting through the left breast and out the other side, then it will rotate to the outside of my breast at approx.145 degree angle shooting up and through so it exits into the air above my chest.  It should  just glancing the trunk of my body -- I'm not explaining it well -- there is no way it's hitting my heart.  Frankly, it is uncomfortable for me to lie on my stomach so I'm glad to be on my back.  I'll be better able to explain when I have my simulation Mon. but  this is my understanding of it so far.  Karenanne

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

    Awesome description dear KarenAnne. All those angles really helped understand better. Are you a math major?



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  • kmf
    kmf Member Posts: 79
    edited December 2009

    Me, a math major?  No -- I was not good at math -- went to law school so I would only have to deal w/words and non- mathematical ideas -- ( except to compute a fee, of course. :))  Karenanne

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

    Lol ok. With all those angles thrown in, I just thought. I guess you are excellent at describing a crime scenes!

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  • DaylilyFan
    DaylilyFan Member Posts: 80
    edited December 2009

    Regarding Aquafor (spelling?), a friend who had a lumpectomy and radiation several years ago in her early 40s recommends it enthusiastically.  I have no experience but my first appointment with the rad onc is Monday, Dec. 28, so I will let you know what he suggests.  I have sensitive skin, very pale, that burns in the sun and is vulnerable to contact dermatitis, so I am a little apprehensive!  By the way, my surgeon was very dismissive of the Canada treatment length.  I am treated at a major cancer hospital in central Ohio, and I think their attitude leans toward overkill, possibly because they see so many difficult cases.  I will post more after my appointment Monday.  What should I ask him besides length of treatment, side effects, prone/supine?  I am semi-retired but will be working three days a week February 1 through April 15.

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