February 2010 radiation starts anyone?

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  • bichonlvr03
    bichonlvr03 Member Posts: 84
    edited March 2010

    Down 22, three to go.  I will complete rads this Friday, March 19th!  Can't wait!  Last week the resident in rad onc told me I was doing well, especially in light of my dosage which she said was 200.  I have no idea what this means.  Is this high?  I know this is late in the game in asking, but I only found this out last week.  I didn't know enough to ask about varying size dosage in radiation treatments.  Does anyone know anything about this?  I'm wondering now if they used the Canadian fractionation which I saw mentioned on one of the other boards on this site, but I don't know what that is.

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited March 2010

    Bichinivr, sorry cant help you with your question...

    Had 19 of 25  today...gave the rads techs an eye full...I got a large body decal of a shamrock and put it on my good breast, so that when they pulled my gown down they would get a surprise...they laughed...gave them something different to look at.

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  • bichonlvr03
    bichonlvr03 Member Posts: 84
    edited March 2010

    micheleboot - what a great idea!  I wish I had done something like that yesterday, I'm not very creative.  I'm prone and could have put something on my back, would have been fun.  Oh well.

     Sounds like your regimen is similar to mine,  25 treatments.  My last one is tomorrow, 3/19.  Can't wait!  How will you celebrate? 

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  • chinablue
    chinablue Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2010

    Can anyone share what they actually do? When they remove the port?

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited March 2010

    Bichon, not to sure how i will celebrate yet...

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited March 2010

    Still having problems with the area under my breast. It started with a yeast infection, and now I have a very sore spot and my skin is peeling. I saw my radiation onc today, and he has decided to do my 7 boosts starting Monday to give my whole breast a little break. I'll have one more full breast treatment tomorrow, then 7 boosts starting Monday, followed by my final 4 whole breast treatments. I'll still be finished on schedule. The nurse gave me some gel pads to put in the fold of my breast to help me heal. I will be soooooo glad when this is over! Us full breasted gals get to have all the fun!

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  • SoCalDawn
    SoCalDawn Member Posts: 51
    edited March 2010

    Mary,

    They switched me to boosts today. I am 23 regular down out of 29 and 4 boosts to go after today..if I have done my math right. I had a little spot starting underneath and peeling starting as well along with the rash. We are collectively hoping both will settle down/heal before finishing the full doses. It's warming up here in Cali so I am noticing more "heat" now and the need to "air out."

    Cheers!

    Dawn  

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited March 2010

    Last rad today ladies. 30 total...5 boosts. I am thrilled to be finished after a year of various surgeries, treatments, tests, etc.

    I'm terribly red and blistered somewhat. I'm sure I will start to peel shortly. Radiation was not the walk in the park I thought it would be, after chemo. However, like always, it WAS doable. You ladies hang in there, you are almost through. Praying for quick healing for us all.

    Chinablue-I'm scheduled for port removal on Apr 14. All I know is it is done in the Surgeon's office in about 15 minutes..which TOTALLY freaks me out. How do you remove it from a vein near the heart and not bleed when it's removed???? I'll let you know if I find out anymore info.

    Have a great weekend,

    Joni

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  • chinablue
    chinablue Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2010

    HURRAY Joni!!!!!!  You made it past a major milestone.  God Bless.

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited March 2010
    Joni - here's a copy of Vickie's post from another thread from back in December - hope this helps!   I survived deportation today.  I agree with Wanda that the numbing shots were not ---- pleasant. The dr. had told me it only takes 10 minutes, but from the time arrived and prepped and all that, it was an hour.  The actually removal took about 15 minutes. they put a drape up so I could not see what was going on, but I told the dr. there was a whole group of ladies who wanted to know details.  It's always such a strange sensation when you're awake and you know they are cutting into you and you can't feel it! I did ask if he was going into the same scar he'd used before.  He said they like to do that unless the port has shifted and then they try to make the incision close to the same scar.  He said mine would have to be a new incision (I've lost almost 20 pounds and that could affect it). I was concerned about the hole where the catheter goes into the vein but he said that was the easy part.  He would just apply a bit of pressure and it would seal itself (like when you get an IV)... and sure enough it stopped bleeding an I didn't even need a banaid.So then there was a bit of pushing and tugging - no pain, just a bit uncomfortable - while he pulled it out.  Sometimes some scar tissue might build up around things.  But it didn't last long and I did not feel it coming out.Afterwards, he held pressure with his hand on gauze, cleaned me and stitched me and superglued me.  The nurse put on a bandage - but mine only has to stay on 3 days.  I'm supposed to go back for a check up in a week.That was about 4 hours ago an I'm feeling a bit sore now, but not bad. I'll let you know how it goes.VickilynnAfter the incision, there was a lot of pulling and tugging an pushing. I also had my port removed in the office in January.  The numbing shots hurt, but after that I didn't feel anything other than tugging, pulling, etc.  -   kinda like a trip to the dentistWink Di Di 
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  • chinablue
    chinablue Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2010

    Thank You DiDi for digging up that post.  I feel much better about the procedure.

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited March 2010

    Yes, thanks DiDi for the post about port removal. Hoping mine goes that smooth.

    My skin is still reacting to the radiation, even though I finished Friday. My Rad therapist said there would be cell reaction for 5 days after I'm through. So I'm still quite burned and living on pain pills this weekend. Underarm area and area of intermammary nodes is the worst.

    Hang in there!!!

    Joni

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  • MaineCoonKitty
    MaineCoonKitty Member Posts: 125
    edited March 2010

    LAST TREATMENT TODAY!  Yay for me.  I have some blistering skin that is very sore, and have been applying Radiaguard like crazy, along with taking Advil.  The worst area is in the armpit and along one of my skin graft scar lines.  Those blisters began breaking over the weekend, so it's better than it has been, but will take a while to heal.  My ribs on the left are sore, and my skin looks like rare roast beef, and the skin underneath the boost sticker marks is breaking down from the adhesive and stings like hell!  But............

    IT"S OVER!  A year's worth of surgeries, skin grafts, wearing a wound vac 24/7, 6 cycles of Taxotere and Gemzar, 35 radiation treatments, and seeing doctors nearly every day for a year is OVER!

    How in the world will I cope with not planning my daily life around treatments and doctor's appointments?  How will I cope with being able to plan vacations, not worrying if I might get sick and ruin a vacation, and getting back to a normal routine that doesn't include treatments?

    Cancer can go to hell.......I'm done with it!  This is for you, Cancer......Tongue out

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited March 2010

    Congratulations MaineCoonKitty!

    I, too, wonder what "normal" life will be like and I haven't been through near as much as you have.

    Enjoy your free time!

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited March 2010

    Time for another mammogram......... pleeeeeaaaaasssseeee let this one be normal.

    I too, am longing for a season of no appts, treatments, surgeries, prescriptions, hair loss, etc.

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited March 2010

    That follow up mammogram comes pretty quick doesn't it? I will be done with rads on April 5th, and I have to have my first followup mammogram on my affected breast in June.

    Jacee-are you taking Tamoxifen? That's my next step and I'm a little bit nervous. I really hope for minimal side effects because my other option is shutting down my ovaries with Lupron, or having my ovaries removed, neither of which sounds too good to me.

    Mary

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  • MaineCoonKitty
    MaineCoonKitty Member Posts: 125
    edited March 2010

    Thank you so much, YramAl!  I just took the recurring appointment for treatment off my electronic calender, and BOY did that feel good!  My team of doctors, breast surgeon, oncologist and radiation oncologist all came to my last treatment and gave me a dozen pink roses.  I've been truly blessed to have the wonderful doctors and their staff that I have. Every one of them made me feel like they were always looking out for me and my best interests.

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited March 2010

    Mary...I'm taking Femara instead of Tamoxifen. I had a total hyst & oopherectomy 2 weeks before my mastectomy. I DO NOT like taking it, but I'm going to for at least 2 years. Onc said 5, but I think 2 may be all I do. I do have alot of joint pain. I heard ladies say they felt 80 years old. I thought "surely not"...but lo and behold 1 month in to it, and I feel 80 years old !! I will say, my mom and her sister both had breast cancer and both had mastectomy with no chemo or rads, only tamoxifen for 7 years. Neither had a recurrence. My aunt lived another 20 years. Maybe it won't be so bad for you.

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited March 2010

    Thanks for the info Jacee. I sure do hope I can be like your aunt and mom.

    How is your radiation reaction? I'm still wearing the gel burn pads under my breast, but the nurse said it looks like I'm finally getting some new skin there. It itches like crazy! Those gel pads are a lifesaver.

    10 more treatments to go-down into the single digits after today!

    Mary

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited March 2010

    only two more rads to go...

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited March 2010

    Going back to work today after a couple of days off to sit around and do absolutely nothing to allow some healing under my breast. The doctor looked at it yesterday and said I have new skin coming in all over the area so things are looking up. I haven't had to stop treatment-they just switched to my boosts so that area gets a little rest. 5 more boosts, then back to 4 full breast treatments, and then I'm done!  Woo hoo!

    Thank goodness for gel pad burn dressings!

    Mary

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited March 2010
    Where is everyone?????
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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited March 2010

    Well I am DONE....Yahoo....Yesterday I was a little emotional, today I was excited to be done.I think I might just miss those great rads techs...

    I am starting to blister under my arm...ouch.

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited March 2010

    Yay Michelle! I'll be done in 7 more treatments. I can hardly wait.

    Yes, the rad techs at my center have certainly made my treatment time so much easier with their positive attitudes and great smiles. I will miss them but not the treatments.

    Mary

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited March 2010

    Congrats Michelle!! 

    Mary, you're almost there!!!  I finished a week ago, and my skin is still reacting. Had blisters show up under my arm 2 days ago, that broke today. Still very tender and painful. But I can see healing in other areas. 

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited March 2010

    I too have small blisters...the onc said that rads takes two weeks for reactions...I didn't get red for two weeks in, and the worst will be over in two weeks... also am getting a sore throat.  Onc said that since my nodes are getting zapped that would happen..it only hurts when I swallow.

    I hope everyone has a great day.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited March 2010

    Hi Ladies...

    It is great to see everyone getting to the end of rads.   I have three more this week, then done!  I really, really dreaded radiation.  Staring those 5.5 weeks in the face seemed like an eternity.  For some reason, it seemed even worse that 24 weeks of chemo.  But, wow, did they go by fast!    The techs make such a difference and it's been encouraging to see other patients finish up.

    I hope everyone's skin issues clear up quickly!

    Patty

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited March 2010

    Someone mentioned sore throat - I kinda forgot to share - got 'esophagitis' - If I don't chew food very well before swallowing - it gets stuck!!  Happened first with a pill - a mucinex lodged  right about collar bone level - NICE!!   Bread especially!  Gave me a 'cocktail' - it's basically the same thing used for chemo induced mouth sores - maalox/liquid benedryl/ lidocaine.

    So far only skin rxn is red itchy rash on chest up to neck.  6 more to go - praying for not much more than that!!  Also feel tightening on tissue expander...we shall see......

    Here here to the radiation therapists!  Very efficient, professional, and pleasant - can't imagine this daily with 'not so nice' people at the helm!!

    Happy Healing!!! 

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  • BustersMom
    BustersMom Member Posts: 495
    edited March 2010

    Congrats to everyone who has finished up rads - YAHOOO!!

    I just had #24 - 9 more to go - 43 regular & 5 boosts.  Since we are radiating my reconstructed/recurrence, things feel realllly really tight.  I also have the "rare roast beef" skin in several large areas - so I refused the bolus yesterday.    I didn't realize rads would get so painful!

    I want to chime in about the nice rads techs too - they make it not suck as much!

    Just wanted to say hi & wish everyone a lovely weekend...    Juliet 

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  • chinablue
    chinablue Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2010

    Anyone have fat necrosis because of radiation?

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