February 2010 radiation starts anyone?

Veggy-- Hopefully you can the rads you've already done and not have to start all over! 

Tiffany-- Welcome to the Journey.

Koka -- Sorry to hear of your difficulty with the porte a cathe-- I was also told that RADS would be easier than Chemo.

I had 3 month check up with Oncologist today -- blood work is normal and will be placed on hormone therapy treatment after RADS is completed. 

Today was #6 of 33.  Skin is a little pink and warm but not too bad so far!!!  My sore throat is almost gone which tells me I must of came down with a little cold.  The RAD Oncologist showed me today how TOMO treatment works and where they are radiating me-- this helped me ALOT.  I guess I don't like it when I am out of dark when it comes to these treatments. 

Good Night Ladies.  The good news is that we should be done with our RAD treatments by Spring!!! YEAH!!!

Loretta

Hi all, I start rad next week, possibly the 16th. I go for my dry run this Friday. Already had the markings (tattoos) done. So anything I should know about going in for the first time? I have aloe in the fridge already and trying to figure out which creams will work best...

Hello all : )   I will probably be starting radiation this month.  I've met with the Radiation Oncologist and he explained what we'll be doing...but we can't start yet because I'm still swollen from the "clean the margin" surgery after a lumpectomy.   I see the surgeon on Friday 2/12, if she gives us the green light, the radiation doc wants to do markers/tattoos the following week.  I'm actually looking forward to getting started...because that means it'll soon be over.  I'm hoping to get the treatments during my lunch hour. The facility is only 15 minutes away from where I work. When are you all planning on going in? 

PS to Edenh - my doc suggested using vitamin E cream.  He said we shouldn't use any vitamin pills during radiation, but that vitamin E cream is OK and works well.  

Good luck to all of us!

3chiles- The cough and sore throat I have is not due to RADS-- I know because my son has the same thing.  This is good news, right!  I am getting RADS to the middle of my chest and a sore throat was one of my concerns BUT my Rad Oncologist said that a sore throat would not be from this RADS.  The most S/E's I have read from women are fatigue and burns to their skin-- Please correct me if anyone else has other S/E's.

Eden- My first treatment is when I had the most anxiety-- You know the unknowing...  I am on the TOMO machine (looks similiar to an MRI machine) in which I have to lay still for 20 minutes but the actual treatment once I am all lined up is 6 minutes.  Someone mentioned that it sounds like little horse hoofs going around and around you.  I have counted them 21 times around me and then treatment is over!  Just lay still and relax the best you can.

Quarter- You'll be starting before you know it...

This evening is #8 for me-- 25 left to go!  Just a little pink -no other S/E's ....WHoa Hoo!!

Loretta

Hi Everybody-

Had my CT scan and tattooing today. I will have my trial run next Wednesday, Feb. 17th, and will have my 33 treatments starting on the 18th. The technician's words were, "Large breasts and fair skin-that's a recipe for skin reactions." Great. Not really looking forward to it, but I'm not feeling scared either. I'm just ready to start and get it over with.

Mary

Well I've had my first 5 treatments and they weren't bad at all so far. 16 more to go. It takes more time for them to position you correctly on the table than it does for the actual treatments.  I'm a bit tired but that's my only side effect so far.  I certainly be glad when it's over though.

Mary,

 I also have 'large breasts and fair skin'....however my radiation oncologist believes I can likely come thru without any burning.  She suggests using Calendula lotion (Whole Foods has..and I think Trader Joe's).  You may want to check with yours to see if she'll allow you to use it.  I'm to apply before treatment (must go on at least 2 hours before if applied before)...then use baby wipes at the hospital prior to treatment to wipe it off.   Put some in my purse and apply immediately after before I leave.  Then apply later in the day.

We'll have to see - I just had my simulation on Friday and rads start Tuesday, however I totally trust her advice - she's been spot on every time I've talked with her.  Here's hoping for SE-free treatments for all of us!

I had my scans and tattoos on 2/12, will have a simulation on 2/18, and start 28 rads on 2/22.   My rad Onc sent me home with some samples of lotions they recommend.   Along with Aquaphor, I was given some Calendula ointment.   I'd never heard of it but they say it really helps with burning/irritation.   I also found that a small study in France that showed that Calendula was more effective in reducing serious skin problems than the prescription steriod cream it was compared to.

Sooo...here we go ladies...off on another phase of our treatment.   God bless us everyone.

Patty

Hi all!

I'll start rads 2/25 - I'm not good at keeping up with posts these days, but will try to follow all of you committed, energetic ladies!!!!!!!!

Once I begin tx will be staying in St. Louis a couple nights a week, If I'm not too busy partying (ha) I'll nestle with my laptop and chat away! 

Hi Patty! I see your scan and simulation are on different dates...I'm pretty sure mine was all in one?  No wonder I was numb by the time I got off that table!   I've seen much on this site about the Calendula - must be magic stuff!!  Are they having you use it preventatively or only if you experience problems?

Haven't posted in a while. Today will be treatment #10 for me as well. I don't have any noticeable color yet, except real slight pink under arm. I have been sore a few days after treatment. I almost think this is from holding my surgical arm up above my head for 20 minutes...but not sure. No fatigue yet. They use a bolus every 3rd day...which is really a wet towel they just lay over my skin. The techs told me it's just an extra layer that draws the radiation closer to the surface of my skin...good for potential cancer, bad for me they said..as it will cause more skin reaction eventually. Using various oils and creams...vit E oil, coconut oil, aquaphor and I put apple cider vinegar on twice a day...just like for sunburn.

Hope all you ladies in treatment aren't burning, and those still to start...hang in there. This is a breeze compared to chemo!!

We CAN do this!!

Joni

I'm on #9 of 35. Turning tan and tired. I get pain in the left nipple. Anyone else experiencing this?

#2 of 33 today. I joked with the technicians that the 4:00 appointment time must be Bob Marley time. Bob Marley has been playing every time I've been in(including my simulation the day before yesterday.) No SE yet-not really expecting any yet. I'm trying slathering on the calendula lotion that thriceblessed recommended immediately after each treatment.

Mary

JTeach-- The first couple of times the bollus was cold as they placed it on my chest-- BUT the good news is that one day they laid the bollus on top of the warm blankets they give us while they were lining me and when they placed the bollus it wasn't cold!!!  So-- we do that every treatment now:)

Loretta

Tomorrow will be my 10th treatment out of 35. Starting to look darker on the left side. Been having problemswith crying spells. Probably because of all the appointments and chemopause. Hopefully this too shall pass and be a vague memory over time.

Awww girls, it's ok to cry...look what we've been through. Don't feel bad, we're so much stronger than we probably ever thought. Yet, life as we once knew it, is no more. It's ok to feel sad at what we have lost.

We are going to make it, stay strong.