January 2010 Rads Start

Onty - Do you know where I can find the study on clodronate?

I have a bolus every day -- my tumor was closer to the skin than the chest wall, that's good, but that means the rays are concentrating more toward the skin, thus I am getting more and more burned on my skin -- that's bad.  It's not too bad on my chest -- just red and a bit itchy. But, under my arm the skin peeled off Mon. eve.  Yesterday when I told them they got me a Rx for Silvedine cream and boy does that ever help soothe it!  It's just a tough spot to keep it on and it is goopy so I'm wearing big loose fitting sleeved tops to stay out of it (hopefully). I meet w/Rad/onc today -- we'll see what she says about how this area will fare w/continued radiation.  13 to go as of today.  Karenanne

Hi just back from rads...my last appt. is feb 12th !!!

Doggie3 checking in and the big news is CONGRATS to Cookiegal for her late breaking news!  You must be so relieved after all the traumas you've had not the least of which is the daily dose of Cancer-zilla!  You are always so funny, Cookiegal...so when you need to whine and complain a bit, feel free to let it rip!  That's what we're here for, and if you can't be honest here, then where? 

Keep the news coming, ladies...we need to keep our focus on the end goal particularly these next weeks as SEs get tougher and the news gets rougher and we search for the "just right" solutions to help us cope while we try our damnedest to keep up with our daily routines.

What a journey these last 9 weeks have been...

WAHOOOOO Cookie!!!!!!!!! That is sooooo awesome! So 25 tx's total?  WTH about the markers and new tatoo? You can mark yourself correctly, then the techs couldn't do it right? We know it's not an exact science, lol. Did they get your permission to do a new tat? Geez, and you're almost done for crying out loud. Well the good news is....you're almost done! And Cancerzilla will be a distant memory...unless you have nightmares 

kmf---That is SCARY the machine stopped 2/3 of the way through! Yowee. You actually had to move to another machine? Hey, that was too funny what you said about airing the girls and your husband's reaction! Mine too: you'd think after 23 years of marriage, the DH would be used to my exposed girls. But maybe it's because there is absolutely NO touching of the radiated one, that makes him want it...?? ok maybe TMI....

veggy---that is a drag you have to repeat the four rads you had already done  Sorry if I missed this in an earlier post, but how did the seroma cause such a large wound? Ouchie, man those things hurt. I had a small golf ball sized seroma in the lumpectomy site, then it got infected, but once that cleared up, all was fine. Your avatar...is that your own horse?

catwrangler--yippee, 22 down! The end is in sight. OMG I laughed at your comment about the surprize you might leave on the grocery store floor! I'll be watching for it next time I'm shopping!

weety---thanks for the bolus information. I had no idea what it was. Did you get clarification about use of Tom's and the amount of boosts from your rads dr?

scoobydoo--how are you feeling now that the port is out, and you've had a little time on pain meds? Good thing you get a couple weeks for that to heal before rads start.

Hey Sido, hope you got the rest you needed after teaching your class? It seems the fatigue kind of creeps up on you, doesn't it?

Tangi-girl---Regarding upset stomach, yes I have a little of that. Like you, I'm hungry, but when I eat I feel full really fast, and slightly nauseous. No idea if it's rads related, or just nerves.

Great explanation of your radiation, sophie305! Onty has explained Candian Fraction as well, so because of you two, I have a much better understanding of the process.

Onty---how ya doing gurl? How are you now feeling, with chemo overwith? What are you up to, while waiting for rads to start?

OneL--did you see your med onc about the swelling? Are your ankles still swollen and toes hurting? I am so sorry you're in pain, and hope they find out the cause, pronto. 

Yippee, mom2acat, halfway through rads! Did you try the liquid antacid before tx, to see if that helped the acid reflux? Enjoy your three days off this weekend!

How's your skin doing, redheadpam? Turning pink yet?

Hi to daylilyfan,sweetlander, twinmom77, victoriasecret, chinablue, jenn3, c2will, precioustime, mommy2two. Everybody keep updating....

Me: 15 down, 1 to go.

Nite all.

Debbie

Today I had #16 - that's (almost) halfway. The skin still looks virginal (hmm...) white, just a faded pink line marks the border of that "box" which the technician tells me will be more visible as time goes by. I think maybe that's because I'm using calendula cream and lotion, which they recommended. Does anyone else use that? As for the tatoos, I prefer them to having to mark my skin all the time. I am told by my friend that they fade too in time, so much that she finds it hard to see them at all.

Scoobydoo - they probably wait this long to start to let your port site heal completely.Try to be patient, because time does go by too fast. Cheers, Elisheva.

Just finished ninth of 21 rad. tx today.  No sign of redness yet. 

I am using Tom's of Maine Lavendar scent and it is working well.  Only one problem, in a rush I forgot to put it on this morning and when I on the table with arms in position for treatment, I noticed the smell of garlic from dinner last night!  OPPS!

Juli

Debbie - My seroma was large and my breast swelled twice the size of her twin. The surgeon did not aspirate it with a needle. She opened it up through the scar that they did the lumpectomy. She left the wound open. They wante it to heal from the inside out. DH has to change the gauze twice a day until it heals. It took me a couple of days before I could look at it. I could see all the way into my breast. Now it is really small.

I saw my family doctor yesterday. I asked him to call my oncologist and tell her that I need the port taken out before I start the radiation again. If not, I'll have the port on one side and a breast on the other side making it impossible to sleep. I can't stand to sleep on my back.

Also he didn't get the results back from my thyroid test. He has a ton of paperwork on my but not those results. He's going to review it and give me his opinion. I had two different doctors give me two different results. Hopefully he will clear it up for me.

That's not my horse. My son and I went for a walk where he gets theraputic lessons. This month he didn't have any lessons and he wanted to visit. This horse and his buddy came up to the fence. I always take my camera when I go.I find it relaxing there.

Juli-Ca -- I was using the Tom's lavendar scent. Didn't know until I read posts last night it has zinc in it.  My dr. grudgingly said I could use no alum. deod. and frankly, as I sit here w/a 1/2 dollar size burn under my arm I wish I hadn't put anything on it except Aquaphor.  I didn't goop that area up from the start as I didn't realize I was getting "tanned" in that area until, almost overnight, the color appeared.  Also, I've been exercising -- power walking on the treadmill throughout, and the arm motion could definitely have been rubbing the area.  Plus, I didn't find out about airing out everything until last week.  So, it is hard to pin point what contributed to my sore spot, but I can tell you it is a pain in the a--!  The Silvedine cream feels great, but you can't keep it on the spot for long.  They gave me petroleum infused gauze to put over the "Silvedine" - I have tried tying gauze around my arm and chest in order to keep this gooey slippery pad in place -- there is no way to wear it during the day -- I looked like I was tied up for some kinky stuff last night when I went to bed  -- just to try to hold the pad over the Silvedine.  I'll try another idea tonight.  But, the point is, protect that underarm area as much as you can!  That is the last place you want a burn!  If I didn't have that area to deal w/this would all be a piece of cake. 

DebbieSawyer:  We've been married 29 yrs. next month and my husband has been the most supportive person through this -- and I'm happy to rpt. that he's not put off by the dinged up boob-- he says it is cancer free and that is more sexy than ever -- what a  great guy! Karenanne

Well, the peeling is spreading.  The area under the breast has been joined by an area around the nipple, and one by the lumpectomy scar.  And yesterday the nurse noted that under my arm would probably start peeling as well.  So now I've added hyrdocortizone cream to the rest of my unguents, and am hoping and praying that I don't blister.

Hi everyone!

Congrats to those that have finished! 

I finished #17 out of 33. No big SEs. I'm very fair skinned and have noticed that I'm a little darker (tanner) especially the nipple.

I did my boost simulation after the treatment today. They did another CAT scan and an ultrasound...everything is so hi tech (3-D), which is a good thing. I will have 10 boosts since one of my margins was very close. The next 16 tx can't go by fast enough!

I AM DONE, DONE, DONE! YIPPEEKAIYEAH! 

Saw the rads dr today, he said my skin held up exceptionally well, and that I don't have to do the seven day followup appointment with him (to check skin damage). My skin is dark pink, and you can definitely see where it was radiated, but it doesn't hurt more than a very mild sunburn. Surprizingly, my nipple is barely sore; just feels like I wore a rough shirt with no bra. I am not peeling, blistered, or burnt. Some pain in the incision sites, but that's probably because the skin there is freshly healed from surgery, and the radiation irritated it more. The fatigue comes and goes, but it's not incapacitating, and I can still drive, work, do chores....just go alittle slower. Slight nausea when I eat, but hey maybe I'll lose weight. And as I said in an earlier post, that may just be nervousness. The only real side effect that bothers me, is I can't wake up easily in the morning. I am a morning person (out of bed by 6-6:30am everyday), but since rads, I can barely crawl out of bed at 7:30am. Once I'm up, and warmed by the first cup of coffee, I'm good to go.

So...to recap...I stopped using aloe vera the second day (too drying), and used calendula lotion 4 times a day, aquaphor at night. I drank tons of water everyday, and 6-8oz of wine a day (sorry that the TN's can't do that). No bra after the first week, just because I thought it might tear the radiated skin. Soft tshirts and cami with bra shelf. Went bare naked topless as much as possible to air the girls out. Snowangel exercises, slowly, and with a good long stretch (thanks kmf!). Since I live on a small ranch, I get plenty of exercise, but did try to take additional walks with my husband (I used the excuse the walk was to give me more energy, but really the walk was to get DH to burn those extra calories!). 

Oh, and the rads dr said over the next 7-14 days, the SE's may get worse, so I'll let you know if that happens. 

The smell of calendula will forever remind me of rads. 

Thanks for the kudos, daylilyfan! I was eating dinner alone last night (DH working late) and I had plenty of time to visit with the 1/10's...hence the longggg post. 

catwrangler and kmf---owww, sorry you're having peeling, pain, sore spots. Do you notice that each day brings a different sort of issue?

sido---how are you feeling? I hope cancelling your class gave you the rest you needed? Did you have your cardiac stress test?

OneL---You saw your med onc today, right? What did he/she say about your ankles, toes?

Hey Onty---THANK YOU again for keeping the OP up to date with everyone's stats, even though your tx doesn't start until February. I noticed you deleted out of the OP the nicknames we've given prone and supine.....? I thought that was too damned funny you included them!

Hello to everyone else; please update where you are in the process, and how you're doing. I'm reading every post, and (to borrow daylilyfan's great phrase) "giving a general shoutout of support!"

So I guess it's time to start looking into Arimidex, since my med onc wants me on that for five years. Not sure if I'm going to do it, though.....

edited to add:

16 down

0 to go.

Congrats Debbie! The tough stuff is done....you were such a trooper!  Celebrate with 2 glasses of "the Blood of Jesus"  You've earned it! Clink....Cheers! 

Today was my 1/2 way point... 17 down 16 to go! Hooray! Got measured up for my 5 boosts...took forever! She kept saying don't move...and my arms were having muscle spasms! Does that count?? 

Oh...got a new tatoo also! #5 for me....anyone got me beat???  All is good so far..gets a little red in the evening and back to normal by morning....praying this keeps up!  Nothing much new to report....sending healing vibes to those of you with peeling and pain! Hope it goes away soon! 

Cheers,

Melinda  

Hello all and a general shout of support to all!  Congratulations Debbie on your great finish today!  I hope the coming SEs are less than predicted!

Sido, you were so right to stay home today.....a lesson to everyone to be gentle with ourselves during this time, and take it slow.  So easy to say to others, so hard to walk the talk (did I say that?  sounds like mgmt-speak of the 90's...eeek).

12 down, 4 to go...then 3 boosts.  CT scan tomorrow in prep for the boosts....whatever that means for prep.  At least the boosts will be supine...yippeee...I will finally be able to see what's going on in that rad room!

There was a new woman in the rads waiting room today....her first day and she was really scared and nervous.  I felt like an "old pro" in assuring her she wasn't going to burn to a crisp as she feared.  I wanted to tell her to check out these discussion boards to help her along...maybe tomorrow...

Amazing that my pink breast hasn't gotten any worse this week as I'd expected it to...that's been a blessed surprise since it's been so busy at the office and I've had to work a number of hours at night to keep up with things.  Fatigue hasn't been that bad this week now that the big baby shower is over...I'm surprised at that also.  As others have said, appetite seems to have lessened somewhat which for me is NOT a bad thing...not sure if it's rads or just the crazy schedule.

So sorry to not mention everyone by name but to those with troublesome SEs, you are in my prayers tonight.  To those with something to celebrate, CHEERS!  I will sip my cab in your honor tonight!  To everyone, be gentle with yourself....and keep up the fight!

it's the dog pound now baby

bow wow wow yippie I yippie A