January 2010 Rads Start

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  • mommy2two
    mommy2two Member Posts: 130
    edited January 2010

    Hi all!

    I finally have another appointment with rad onc tomorrow now that I have finished chemo.  I'm ready to get this show on the road and over with!  Hopefully, I will find out my start date and all other pertinent info then.

    Hope everyone has a good evening!

     Toyah

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  • Kim09
    Kim09 Member Posts: 100
    edited January 2010

    Just finished #3, 25 more to go.  Yesterday they put a bolis (sp?) on me for the treatment.  They told me that it will be used every other time.  They said it is used on people who have mastectomies so the beam will get more intense like it would if I still had a breast there.

    My way of dealing with the machine is to close my eyes and act like I am taking a nap.  Of course I can't really fall asleep with my hands streched over my head and the position that my cradle puts me in.

    I am using Aleo Gel in the morning and evening.  If I really start having problems I will also use the Aquaphor. 

    They told me that if the snow is bad on any of my treatment days I can just call in to say I am not coming in.

    Saw my rad onc yesterday, everything looked good.  I will see him each Tuesday.  Will be meeting with my Med Onc on Friday, hopefully there will be no surprisecs.  I will confirm with him when he wants to start me on the AI.

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  • kmf
    kmf Member Posts: 79
    edited January 2010

    I had my 6th today and saw the rad/onco dr.  All is well.  She did ok me to use Tom's of Maine only in the armpit.  She says she can see where I'm getting the rays -- it just looks like my own tan to me -- I've been tanning in a bed this past yr. ( that's over w/now!) and I've tanned when I'm on vacation so I have pretty much permanent tan lines. Anyway, guess I'll have to get out the bronzer for the other 1/2 of the chest to even it out.

    She said I will have 5 boosts at the end.

    I didn't ask about other lotions.  All they talk about is the Aquaphor which I use all the time -- except not 4 hrs before zapping.  But, every night before bed, and before I exercise in the morning and after I shower, so I'm pretty much coated w/it most of the time.

    She did say she didn't want me to do any supplements like Omega 3's until after I'm done.

    Also, I developed quite a good size hematoma in the lower part of my armpit from the lymph node removal.  As soon as I started tread-milling it started going down.  It is almost gone now.  The dr. said that getting the blood circulating via exercise was definitely why it was receding so quickly. 

    Hope everyone has good luck w/ few to no side effects.   Karenanne

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited January 2010
    Dear MomAnd2Kids,
    Thanks for the encouragement and the tips. Now we have so many gals who have started rads in the last few days - Gogo_Xago's Mom, CatWrangler, CookieGal, kmf, NannaJean, Jillilene, PaigeLese, Kim09, Sido, DebbieSawyer, MissMelis1 - so we will be looking for more support, advice and tips from you.

    Dear Tangi,
    Good luck for tomorrow!

    Dear Jenn,
    Good luck for the consult and mapping appointment with the radiation oncologist.

    Dear Flo,
    Good to know your surgeon addressed the stitches that had popped open.

    Dear Cookie,
    You crack me up totally!

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited January 2010

    Dear Toyah,

    Looking forward.

    Dear 1L,

    Thanks for the update.

    Dear all,

    Yes I finished chemo on Monday this week. The side effects are mild this time so far.

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  • taggarung
    taggarung Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2010

    I am starting tomorrow morning - January 9th.  I had my staging yesterday and it went well, but I am now covered with geometric drawn shapes and look like a bad Picasso painting.  My cancer was an early find, but with some unknown aspects regarding whether chemo would be helpful. Ultimately I decided against chemo, so I am going straight to the radiation after a lumpectomy in early December.  I had a few weeks off from worrying about this, but now I am reconnected to my worry.  My sisters (who have happily never had this) keep telling me that I am fine and that all will be well.  I understand that that is most probably true, but I can't help feeling that they are positively spinning this for their own comfort. Does anyone else get tired of people telling them not to worry?

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  • catwrangler
    catwrangler Member Posts: 23
    edited January 2010

    7 down, 28 to go.  I can see that the side that's getting radiation is a little darker now, but it hasn't gone to pink or red yet.  It was also the first time that I came home after the appointment and felt like I needed a nap.  (I go into work in the morning, and my appointment is mid-afternoon.  I usually come home after and log into work from there for another couple of hours.)   So it was nap day today, instead of extra work time; hopefully tomorrow will be slow and I can pick up what I missed.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited January 2010

    Dear Taggarung, welcome. Good luck for tomorrow. Do tell us some more about your overall diagnosis and radiation plan. Look up the first post on this thread at the top of the page and people's signature to get an idea of the kind of info everyone is providing.

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  • sophie305
    sophie305 Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2010

    Dear all, wow a lot of activity happening this week.  Thanks to everyone for sharing so much of your early experiences...my planning session is tomorrow and I'm ready to get on with it, armed with so much info on what to expect.  Big snow storm is expected to start here in Chicago in another hour or so with heavy accumulation by morning so here's hoping I'll still be able to get to the cancer center.  I'm interested (as so many others) in what their recommendations will be re creams.  I've read alot about Lindi Skin Care, and it's sold at a couple of Women's support stores/centers here in the area.  I purchased some Radx Moisture Therapy (for using a few days prior to starting tx), and Radiation Therapy (for using once symptoms appear). I'm expecting though that the recommendation will be Aquaphor which is available OTC retail at drug stores, Walmart, Target, etc.  Time to get this show on the road.....back to you after tomorrow's session. 

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  • tangi-girl
    tangi-girl Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2010

    Hey Gals,

     Six hours until my first radiation treatment.  Got my tattoos, etc. last week.  Bought my camisoles on Monday.  I guess I am ready.

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  • gogo_xago
    gogo_xago Member Posts: 131
    edited January 2010

    Hi all, my mom is on 7, 23 to go. Everything is going OK. The first week is quite exhausted, because of the position of her arm, but as the days pass, everything is going better. No redness yet, no irritation no side effects at all. I hope everyone has good luck.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited January 2010

    Gogo,

    Is she getting it lying on her back or on her belly?

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  • gogo_xago
    gogo_xago Member Posts: 131
    edited January 2010

    she is lying with her arm at 90 degrees, and her palm behind her head. But she must stay motionless (almost not breathing) for about 20 minutes. This kind of rads (IMRT) includes 2 or 3 times a week, a ct scan in order to re-locate the exact marks - points.

    So sometimes the whole procedure is more than 30 minutes and is a little bit uncomfortable.

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  • DebbieSawyer
    DebbieSawyer Member Posts: 133
    edited January 2010

    Hey everyone; Just back from third tx, and the weekly check in with the rads dr. So far, all is normal: slight breast swelling, a bit more pink. Not having the hurricane mapping yet that cookiegal experienced....yet anyway (cookiegal, that description was hilarious, and gave a perfect visual!) No fatigue. I'm trying not to worry and read into the cause of every little symptom, such as.....is my cough this morning because of rads, or dust from the cat litterbox? Is my indigestion because of rads, or because that sandwich had hot peppers on it? You get the idea. After the first day of tx when I didn't apply any lotion until I got home, I now apply calendula cream when I change out of the hospital gown, immediately after tx. Then apply every few hours. At night I really coat on the Aquaphor, and wear a thin, soft t-shirt to bed. It helps keep the goop on my breast and off the sheets. The t-shirt is tight, because it holds the breast with no rubbing on the material.

    Anyhoo, more later. The sun is shining, the temps are in the 50's, and I'm heading outside!

    Debbie

    3 down 13 to go

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  • leighannmarie
    leighannmarie Member Posts: 100
    edited January 2010

    First rads today.  Breast only, 28 + 5.  Face up.  My neuropathy seems to be worse today after treatment.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited January 2010

    7 down, 23 to go.

    Still a bit concerned about swelling, but oh well.

    Overall things seem to be getting quicker, and they have found a position that is not as painful for my healthy breast's neighboring shoulder.

    going for accupuncture consult tomorrow.

    Oh and I never mentioned this, my destist prescribed me special toothpaste for during rads.

    I think he was just jealous of the oncologists and wanted in on the fun.

    Cheers!

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  • taggarung
    taggarung Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2010

    Ok here is my information as well as I understand it.  I was diagnosed 11/09. Lumpectomy on 12/5/09. Stage 1b, grade 4, ER-, PR-, Her2+. I started radiation today - supine - 28, 5.

    At my radiation place they told me to use aloe vera sparingly on the entire breast. So I applied it after I got home much later in the day. Maybe I will start taking it with me to the radiation in the morning to apply before i go to work - they told me it would help prevent skin irritation from happenning. heres hoping!

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  • skidoo
    skidoo Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2010

    Hi all, I'm new here and this is my first post. I'm 46, I had a mastectomy and axial dissection in June, had six treatments of TCH chemo, and have just started rads.  I started Jan 4 like some of you, so tomorrow we have finished our first week!  I will be done Feb 17, and that includes a week of boosters along my scar. I'm a single mom of a three year old, so I've been opting for the most aggressive treatments.  I'm getting my rads five days a week, face up, and was told to use Aquaphor after each  treatment and before bedtime.  Can't believe I made it to my 8am treatment every day this week despite a couple of inches of new snow just about every morning. (I live near Pittsburgh.)

    Looking forward to holding virtual hands with all of you as we go through these treatments together. Onward and upward.

    ps. can anyone tell me how to include my treatments in my signature? I saw the diagnosis part, but not treatments.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited January 2010

    What special toothpaste Cookie?

    Tagga, thanks for the info.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited January 2010

    What special toothpaste Cookie?

    Tagga, thanks for the info.

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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited January 2010

    taggarung, I do get tired of people  telling me I will be just fine.  I want to believe that also, but I also am realistic enough to know, that it could come back and I will have to deal with it all over again.   I know they mean well, but I do not find it comforting.

    I go tomorrow to the Rad Onc.  It is just the consult, I wish I was starting tomorrow, but no deal.  Anyway maybe tomorrow I will have something to report, like when I can expect to start.  Not that I am excited about it, just want to get it over.

    I have my big jar of Aquaphor and bought soft t-shirts on Tuesday.  I also have some other lotions, but can't remember what they are.  I think I am ready.

    Good luck to everyone that is already getting rads. 

    Juannelle

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  • catwrangler
    catwrangler Member Posts: 23
    edited January 2010

    8 down,  27 to go.

    What I'm really noticing today is how dark the moles on the underside of my treated breast are getting.  My DH says that it's turning pinkish as well, but all I can see is what seems like 100 new freckles and moles appearing out of nowhere.  Wow, when they say the skin darkens, the skin really darkens.  

     One more day, and then a break for the weekend, yay!  I'm looking forward to it.

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  • grama5
    grama5 Member Posts: 81
    edited January 2010

    Now I have another question. As I reported I went in yesterday and had 4 stitches put in my incision in order to get it to heal. I have pain radiating over from the incision to between my breasts in the middle.  I  automaticly rubbed the spot that hurt and found a knot on my sternum, about the size of a quarter. I remember that bone hurting me when I had the MRI and had to lay for 45 min. If I slouch and feel there I can't feel the bump but if I sit up straight I can and it is quite large. Any thoughts or simular experiances anyone?

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  • Sido
    Sido Member Posts: 234
    edited January 2010

    Hi everyone!

    We had a good size snowstorm last night that left the streets a mess and most schools closed.  My rad onco's office called me 3 times to try to get me to come in early since so many people cancelled.  DH had the car so they sent a hospital courtesy van to pick me up and take me home so they could close up early.  But tx #3 went fine and I saw the dr afterward.  I'm starting to feel a little tender, but there hasn't been any color change or anything.

    I'm going to revolt a bit against the dr's instructions and use some kind of deodorant because I can't handle being stinky.  I found information on a study that determined that there wasn't any real problem with using aluminium-based anti-persperant during radiation, but I'll try something like Tom's all-natural or see what the breast-center shop carries.

    Flo, I'm glad it wasn't a clot.  Hopefully you can start rads soon!

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  • Kim09
    Kim09 Member Posts: 100
    edited January 2010

    Sido,

    My friend who has gone through radiation used a deoderant stone.  Matter of fact she liked it so much that she still uses it.  You can find them in health stores.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited January 2010

    I posted this on my swelling thread too.

    My swelling is back.

    It kind of freaks me out because I had a bi-lat reduction with the lump, and it's almost like my breast is back to it's old size....it's like a horror movie where the body pushed back out of the grave "RETURN OF THE GIANT BOOBIE"

    So what constitutes breast lymph? My rad onc did not seem concerned, I will put a call into cancer support program, should I call my med onc? My ps? My surgeons were at a different hospital.

    It just makes me nervous. I asked my rad on what consitutes too much swelling she said nobody ever stopped treatment from edema.

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  • mom2acat
    mom2acat Member Posts: 556
    edited January 2010

    I just got a call from the radiation center; I start the radiation to my spine on Monday afternoon.

    I will also find out that day how many treatments I will be getting.

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  • concernedsis
    concernedsis Member Posts: 256
    edited January 2010

    Sis started in December has completed 21 of 28. Preop Chemo then had a mastectomy with ax dissection and placement of tissue expander. Expander was filled prerads. On tamoxifen. Skin pretty red now - it seemed to activate her surgical scars as where her drains were hurt. Doing her chest, neck and axilla so pretty large area. She started aquaphor b4 rads and added pure Aloe Vera gel once she started so basically she showers with dove, goes to rad, comes home - puts on ale vera and sits till it sinks in (she calls herself uniboob) then slathers the aquaphor on a puts on an oversized white T then a sports bra then clothes. Repeats the aquaphor like 3x day. Under arm starting to burn so doc stopped the boost (a gel they put on) in that area. So far no actual breaks in skin. In the home stretch - good luck to all!

    ok spoke too soon - today has blisters on side under arm. No changes in regimen - just gonna try and tough it out. Has the weekend off - 5 days next week, then 2 then WAHOO!

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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited January 2010

    I just got back from the rad onc and I was just going to have a consultation today, but he said they had time for the simulation, so we went ahead and got that over  with.  It wasn't too bad, but I started coughing right in the middle of it and they had to stop the simulation and reposition me agian.  Almostlike  starting over.  She said if that happened during the treatment, try to stay as still as  possible and don't move my right  arm.  That should be interesting.

    Onty, I will have 33 treatments, and I will be on my back, nothing but the boob, since I didn't have any lymph node involvement.  I will start on 1/20.

    They told me to just let  them know about anything I planned on using and that they would  be  giving me lotions and creams to put on to help with skin problems.  He said they normally don't like to take breaks, but if the skin problems got too bad, then they may let me have a day or two off.  There are no holidays during the time I will be getting treatments, I don't think anyway.

    I will keep up with all  of you that are leading the way for me, so I want lots of pointers to get me through.

    Sido, I also use a deodorant stone and I like it.  I have used it since I had surgery.

    Cookiegal, sorry you are having swelling, is it from the radiaiton? 

    Hope everyone has had a good day.

    Juannelle

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  • DebbieSawyer
    DebbieSawyer Member Posts: 133
    edited January 2010

    Today's update: Breast slightly swollen, but now small red bumps are appearing between my breasts, and are a tiny bit itchy. Applying calendula cream and aloe vera three--four times a day, at night it's calendula cream and aquaphor. I hope those products don't work to counteract each other. I try to go topless much as possible (but not out in public. Eeegads!).

    Looking forward to the weekend and two days away from radiation.

    Hello to concernedsis,mom2acat,kim09,grama5,skidoo,taggarung,leighannmarie,gogo_xago,kmf, tangi-girl, mommy2two. Sorry if I missed anyone.....

    cookiegal--hopefully you've gotten an answer about your swollen breast? Maybe by reading the lymphedema threads (binney4 or kira are the most knowledgeable), or from your med onc? If it were me, I'd definitely talk to the med onc....now.

    oneL---Bet you were glad to finally get the sim, and have a start date for rads.

    sophie305--did you get the Lindi skin cream? I checked it out, looks nice, but maybe a little expensive? But if it works, it's worth the price!

    catwrangler--your screen name is cute and funny. Do you wrangle domestic or wild cats??! (I have four domestics).

    sido--The Tom's of Maine seems to work pretty well; or no one in my family has dared to mention my body odor! I never used the stone or crystal. At least we're getting rads during winter, instead of during the heat of summer. Whew. That would be nasty. Speaking for myself, that is. :)

    onty---how are you doing since your last chemo? I see (I think) your rads date was moved up again?

    A good weekend to all.....

    Debbie

    4 down 12 to go

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