January 2010 Rads Start

Everyone have a great (rads free, pain free) weekend! Those of you getting those severe snow storms, take care, be safe.

How do you attach photos to these posts? I was going to insert a picture of the view from my house of NO snow, but maybe it's better I don't show that to you.... ))

(obviously the process of attaching photos is more involved than just copy and paste)

sanaisa--Thank you for the web link. I skimmed the medpagetoday report, and wanted to note that it did say "The analysis showed an increased risk of breast cancer death only among women taking paroxetine."  It appears not all SSRI's have this increased risk, just Paxil.  If I misunderstand the report, please do let me know. Just didn't want to scare those who are on any SSRI's.

kmf, congrats on finishing.  Boy  am I jealous about you finishing and your vacation.  Hoping you have a great time, have a drink for me while you are there. 

Juannelle

Debbie--terrific visual, can't help smiling whenever I see it!

1rarebird--I can't speak for all rad facilities, but my boost rads were targeted through a specially-made cutout plate just inches from my breast.  My only SE was a firm, dense area under part of the scar.  It's impossible to predict SE because it's a different kind of radiation (electrons instead of protons), and everybody's different.  Don't hesitate to ask your techs for more info and keep using whatever lotion you have.  (PS:  Great egret is my favorite bird; wish I had a photo.) 

Kmf congratz on crossing the finish line ! how nice was that of your rad onc to call !enjoy Jamaica Man !!

I brought my rads team in a box of chocolates and had my goodbyes could feel the lump in my throat so made it short.Funny how you become attached to your helthcare teams..Monday is my last day with my nurse ,she has come weekly since my release from hospital in August..that will be sad.

I have to get on with the rest of my life !!its been on hold since June so its time !!! 

Then it was off to lunch with my bff...dh is away on business ( great timing)but ok with me so the kids and I headed out to dinner...to celebrate..

much love

C

yea for victoriasecret,you are done, great, fantastic, yippee.

Juannelle

I keep reading about all you with boosts.  My doc said no boosts for me (of course now I'm going to question him more and find out why) but I'm wondering if there is anyone else who didn't have any boosts.  I had a mastectomy and my radiation is to the chest wall, so maybe that's the reason.  But I still wonder about the scar/skin area, too, because my margins were actually smaller there than the chest wall.  (3mm margin from IDC to chest wall, but DCIS present at chest wall; 1mm margin from IDC to skin)  Any thoughts?

Hey Debbie...yes, I saw the specific notes pertaining to Paxil...but in reading the entire article, sounds like any SSRI is cause for concern (they list a number of them). The concern is that SSRI's are CYP2D6 inhibitors. They find Prozac or Paxil most strongly inhibit the CYP2D6 enzyme, but there is mention of other SSRIs.I guess the option is the alternative hormonal therapy medicine, like an aromatase inhibitor.They say that aromatase inhibitors can be a good alternative to tamoxifen for post-menopausal women.All so confusing! 

Cookie...so sorry to hear of your nerve pain.  My gosh...

Hi sanaisa--thank you for the add'l information/clarification. As I said I skimmed the article: I will go back and read it thoroughly. Like you said, it's all so confusing. For every study you read, another study will say the opposite; It's okay to eat soy. It's not okay to eat soy. It's okay to drink wine. It's not okay to drink wine. Sheez. Anyway thanks again for the link. Since I now have my AI prescription in hand, guess I'd better study up on that next phase of treatment.

Weety - I didn't have boosts either. 

 Well my Aromasin showed up today.  I think I will wait till nex weekend to start it.  I want a full weekend to see how I react to it.  Since one of the SE's can be insomnia and another can make you tired I can't decide if I want to take it in the morning or evening.  My med onc didn't say I had to start it right away so I am giving myself a week off.

Posted this earlier on the December Rads thread and then found this one is more on my time schedule- 

Well, I really missed the boat on finding this site! I have read through all your posts and am honored to be amoung such strong, caring women! I finished Rad 2 weeks ago and could really have used all your wonderful information while I was going through it with you!  I had 27 rads and 7 boost. I had small watery type blisters on my chest wall that then became leathery and needed creams. I am very large breasted (DDD) and the breast itself tolerated the rads very well, I got pink only. My problem was the fold under the breast. The skin there broke down very badly and actually bled at times. I started out rolling baby wash cloths and lining the fold with hydrogen 10, gauze and then the wash cloth. This worked for a few days, but then any movement caused rubbing from my bra and pain. I teach elementary school, so going braless was not an option! A friend gave me a great product called A SHOWER HUG (www.showerhug.com) which was designed for lactating or post surgical women to wear in the shower to prevent pain from the water pressure. It is a wrap that velcroes in front. I turned the velcro around and wore it under my clothes like a tube top. It gave me plenty of support and really did feel like a ((HUG)) when I needed it most! The other piece I wore was from Women Within's web site and it was like a tight camisole with built in bra with no underwires! It felt like I had my bathing suit top on and was very comfortable. I did find that during the most painful of times I preferred to sleep in one or the other.

Now that I am almost 2 weeks out of rad. I can say that I am healing nicely. I have Irish skin that burns easily, I have had both basal and squamous cell cancers removed before so I was very nervous. The skin is still peeling but the new skin ispink and shiny.

I did also have a part of my lung clipped by the radiation. I developed asthma type symptoms that the rad onc did not seem too concerned about. After more than a week of wheezing I started coughing constantly so I went to my Primary. That lead to an antibiotic, Advair, rescue inhaler, and 30 days of steroids. YUCK. I have terrible insomnia from the steroids, but everything seems to be clearing up. Sometiimes I get dizzy and have terrible hot flashes. I think it is from all the meds?

I did my treatments before Christmas at 8:00 and went late to school. No problem as far as feelign more or less tired because it was so early on, except I am NOT a morning person. After the holidays, the 4:00 slot came up and I took that. I listened to a great book on cd in the car on the way- The Help- and it made the trip to and fro enjoyable.

I was supposed to see onc. 2 weeks ago but he cancelled, then last week he cancelled me again, then we have had 2 feet of snow and he closed office for 2 days this week.(This was timely as we had 2 Snow Days that but up to a 4 day Presidents Weekend to relax and build up more stamina!)

I am nervous and would love to see if anyone can tell me about the drugs we are about to start taking? I am overweight but in good health. I am about a year since my last period. I have had terrible hot flashes since diagnosis. Not looking foward to more SE. What have you all been told about the drugs and what to expect?

Mimi- I can relate to the seroma thing! I had a big, very painful one after my first surgery. It actually leaked at one point, closed up and then a week later exploded- the stuff just poured out of me and I was out of town visiting my poor, traumatized parents. Had to drive 3 hours back to surgeon, he tried to get an OR, but there were none until 10pm so he opened it in his office! I never felt a thing- sort of like having a stitch removed and then RELIEF- it felt sooooo good! I would recomment the shower hug for soaking in a warm shower or tub and to wear dry to keep it from hurting. Good luck!

 Congratulations to all of you who have just finished! Yeah! Feels great, huh?

 To those of you who are still going through the drag of rad. it will all be over before you know it and just be a unfavorable memory. I feel I learned a lot about myself going through the experience. Think at the end of every day all you had been through that day and congratulate yourself for all you have done. I worked all the way through rad with special education kids in grades 1-3. I was a work aholic in the past and I had to put in a lot less hours of writing meticulous lessons and being on every committee, but I pulled from what I knew after 30 years experience and  taught from my heart. It may not have been my best year, but I knew I had done my best every day. I was renewed to be able to be ok with that. 

 God bless everyone in this club we never thought we would be members of!

Juli-CA -- Thanks for the description of your treatments. It sounds very similar to the way I am being treated except for the number of treatments.  Perhaps you recieved higher dosages of radiation than I am getting so it will take melonger (more treatments) to get the total amount of radiation needed.  They told me I am getting 180 centigrays each time for 28 times.  That equals about 50 Grays total, then there will be the 5 boosts.  I am very glad to hear that you did not blister in the boost area.  That gives me something to look forward to.  Thanks again.

bird

Hello bc sisters, I am half way thru rads, it is yuckier than I thought, am trying Bioron Calendula lotion and emu oil, all other creams/lotions I've used do not absorb at this point, merely create a sheet of dried lotion peeling off my skin. I wish I had something more positive to report, however although it is uncomfortable, it is not unbearable, bless us all

Hello all, I went over to the February RADs post and there was my pal Onty telling me to join y'all here.   I had my CT last Monday and would have had my runthrough Friday but 9 inches of snow caused a cancellation.  *I like Juanelle live in Texas - and that white stuff is scary!    I will have my first treatment and the runthrough tomorrow.

Onty - I can't give you all of the answers for the top yet, but I'm pretty sure I will be supine because my CT was that way and when I made a comment the tech said if it was too uncomfortable I should practice at home.  

Does anyone else feel like they should be doing pull downs or leg raises while they are lying there holding a bar above their heads???