MARCH 2010 Rads Group

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited March 2010

    First treatment today...hated it.  Almost cried twice.  It didn't help that I had a half hour wait in the waiting room first, all that extra time to be alone with my anxiety... Then the time in the radiation room took longer than expected, too, because they had to re-do the films because I was "so tense" on Friday that it got messed up or something.  Then I met with the nurse so she could talk to me about potential side effects, and in terms of the list of supplements/herbs/vitamins I'm taking, she told me the radiation oncologist wants me to stop drinking my favorite herbal tea but could not give a reason why - they "looked it up" and "something about it" might interfere with radiation.

    Okay, random question - is it REALLY necessary to change into the hospital gown every time for this?!  I was thinking of asking the techs if I can just take my shirt off once I get into the radiation room, lay down in that naked-from-the-waist-up state, get zapped, then put my shirt back on once I'm done.  It would certainly save time, you know?  And hospital gowns just annoy me, and make me feel like A Sick Person In A Hospital.  Every time I went for a postoperative check-up with my surgeon, the nurse who brought me into the clinic room would give me a gown to put on, and I'd thank her and then ignore the gown and stay in my clothes.  It was never a problem... I would literally just lift up my shirt so my surgeon could see my breast, or take my shirt off if necessary.  What is the big deal?  Why do I have to go into the dressing room, change into a gown, put my clothes into the locker and lock it and put the key around my wrist, just to walk down the hallway into the radiation room so the techs can remove my gown?!?

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited March 2010

    Sherri I am glad it went well for you today, now you know what to expect and now we are all in for the countdown....I think you will be finished before me as I have 28 more to go......

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  • c2will
    c2will Member Posts: 91
    edited March 2010

    Sherri - glad your first day was good.  By the time you get used to the routine, you'll be done.  I hope I remember that my new time slot is earlier tomorrow, and that I need to drive to the hospital instead of going to work first!

    Raili - why not ask the technicians about the gown ?  It's most likely standard procedure to have you wear the gown, since it's easier to come out of the sleeves of the gown for most people than to take off whatever clothes you're wearing for the treatment and/or other exams.  Many women are wearing more than a shirt.

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  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
    edited March 2010

    I have my 6th treatment today... getting ready to leave for it. I might be imagining it, but I am already TIRED, TIRED, TIRED. Could fatigue already be settling in? I took a walk this morning and I thnk I am exhausted now!

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  • ve1787
    ve1787 Member Posts: 29
    edited March 2010

    Hi there,   I will be having my last chemo treatment Wed of this week so will be starting rads sometime in April.  Have any of you heard that you need more iodine when having rads?  Someone related to me that they read that that was the case; any of you have your radiologist tell you that?

    Thanks-  wishing you all great success with your rads.

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  • TreadSoftly
    TreadSoftly Member Posts: 192
    edited March 2010

    Raili - I dont wear a gown at all.  I just remove my upper clothes when I go into the radiation room, get zapped (thankfully, they give me a large tissue type sheet to  put over me during treatment), then walk over to the chair  and put on my clothes again when its over.  Really agree there is no need for a gown at all....

    Treatment 14 out of 33 over, so far so good, have changed over to a bra with no underwire, but no discomfort yet.  Im getting a little pink around the area, but its not painful. 

    ve1787, dont know anything about iodine during rads, I wasnt told anything....

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  • fan2544
    fan2544 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010

    Raili,

    Feel for you so much but remember that there is a beginning and an end to this whole process. It is so hard I know.  My RAD team plays music in the treatment so I focus on that.

    In regards to the gown. I cant imagine it would be a problem to not wear one.

    But if they insist for whatever reason think that this is part of "this process."

    So know that you put it on for a reason ~to ensure and insure your future health~but be very happy to shed it (Yes another one done! and dunk it into the hamper for worn gowns!) and get into your own clothes . Helped me before work each day ~may sound silly..............whatever works right?!  hugs

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  • etk02038
    etk02038 Member Posts: 150
    edited March 2010

    Hi

    Went in today for lots of "films". It was fine, just a little cool in the room. They said that is pretty much how the treatments will go but quicker. I think I should do fine. I have the 4:30 slot so I won't have much to do after. Go home, rest, and get to bed early I hope!

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  • MzJ
    MzJ Member Posts: 31
    edited March 2010

    Hi Raili,  I look forward to going back to the changing room because I put on aloe vera gel right away after treatment.    I always end up getting some on my bra and shirt, but it doesn't bother me. It's more important to help my skin.   

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited March 2010

    Hi etk02038....I notice that is a Franklin zip, where are your treatments at?  Are you in Boston or Worcester?  I am going to Peter Lavine at 4:00, just curious.......

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited March 2010

    Had practice run today with more xrays.  It was actually fairly quick. Have to admit, my three tech people are really really nice.

    Raili, I'm sorry that your first treatment was so stressful.  I actually don't mind sitting in the waiting room so much---they have lots of herbal tea so I use it as a reminder/opportunity to drink some more. And the techs are really good about keeping an eye on the cameras so I've never had to wait very long.  My hospital also has the gown-locker-changing room set-up---I never gave it much thought.  Like someone else said, its an opportunity to apply lotion etc--I couldn't do that in the treatment room because they are busy moving me out and someone else.  Plus there is lack of privacy.  I think that you have to lock things up because in many places, there just isn't a safe place to leave your "stuff."  That said, it doesn't hurt to ask, does it?

    Raili, I am curious, however as to what herbal teas you were told to stop drinking.  I've never been given the slightest indication that I couldn't drink whatever herbal teas I wanted.  The waiting room has a lot of Tazo teas with various mints, tarragon, camomile, green tea, etc. At home in the evenings I most often have either a peppermint/spearmint/tarragon blend or the Tulsi Rose tea or Celestrial Seasonings Sleepytime.

    Has anyone else been told to avoid certain foods/herbs etc?

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  • AndreaS97057
    AndreaS97057 Member Posts: 46
    edited March 2010

    It was my first today too -- wow, what a mental trauma.  I, of course, cried.  I've cried in front of every doctor, technician, etc so far.  I guess I no longer really care who has seen my boob, or who has seen me cry.  But as a mental game, I'm going to make it a goal that I'm going to make it through one consultation without crying.. so far.. nope.  My other mental occupier is that I'm trying is to count the holes in the speaker cover in the treatment room.   I kept losing focus after the first few rows.  In five weeks, you'll all know exactly how many holes it has - oh, boy, I bet you can't wait.

    1 out of 25 - from here on out, I have the first slot of the morning, 7:45am.  I'm hoping it'll help me fight my morning depression by making me get up and get going and then not having to think about radiation for the rest of the day.  And there's a great bakery between radiation and work.  I'm lucky that the center is so close for me.

    Raili - you're tough!  don't let it the gowns get you down - I'm going to be slam dunking that stupid gown into the bin every day with my count (great idea, FAN).    

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  • ATeamNana
    ATeamNana Member Posts: 464
    edited March 2010

    Hey all.....Today was #14 of 33 for me..so far no redness..slight tingly....weird feeling...but

    not really pain just feels different.  I drive an hour there and hour back then go into work...

    my sister rides with me most days...we leave the house at 6:30 AM...and St. Louis Bread Company is on our way back.....it gives me something to look forward to on the trip home and I head in to work and work until 5:30...almost getting in my full 8 hour day.....

    I'm using a generic cream from Walmart and also have the aquaphor but after reading some posts

    not sure about it....(Petroleum based????)   Anyway so far so good......

    Have a good one all!

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  • Sugar77
    Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
    edited March 2010

    Andrea - please don't feel bad...I cried, too.  I went alone today for my first treatment and was fine in the waiting room but when I got on the treatment table and the technicians started measuring for set up, it was overwhelming and I really felt like a cancer patient. Once I got my composure, I was fine.  I never had that reaction for any of my chemo treatments. The equipment was scary at first. Hang in there!

    Sherri 

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  • ryder
    ryder Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2010

    Hi Everyone

    I have my appt for mapping next week.  I will be 5 weeks post-op then from a bi-lat mast with immediate igap reconstruction.  Has anyone else done rads right after surgery?  If so, how long of a wait was there?  My incisions are well closed but still looking quite "fresh" and of course I am still swollen and bruised.  I am hoping that rads won't be delayed, just want to get it all overwith!

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  • charmainejensenvoisine
    charmainejensenvoisine Member Posts: 369
    edited March 2010

    Fan - If you do not mind my asking, this clinical trial that you are involved in what is this?  As I too live in Ontario, Canada and have not heard of anything?  Thanks :)

    Well ladies, as of Tuesday I am only 6 RADS treatments short of finishing..  I have a bad burn up to my right underarm.  My Radio Oncologist has Rx me 'hydrocrotosone creme' and also the nurse has recommended that I use Saline Solution Compress after applying the creme....  the burn is driving me nuts with burning/itching.   Last treatment March 30th. 

    So cannot wait for this to be over with...  

    Charmaine

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited March 2010

    Do agree with what you wrote, Raili, each time I'd put on the gown since this whole process began last year I've always felt dehumanized by the gown. Some appointments didn't even require anyone looking at my breast, but I just sheepishly change. Oh, and the breast center makes you also put on a hospital bracelet when you check in at the front desk and before you even sit down in the waiting room, used to freak me out because it seems so "admitting me" even when it's just for a mammogram. But throughout this absolutely terrifying ordeal, I've been having to sort of shut my brain off and do what they tell me to do. And oddly, now all of this is becoming ny new normal.

    Anyway, I'm 1/3 done now  Smile (wow, sure sounds better than 22 more to go!).

    Had overall pink breast after last Thursday's and through Friday's treatment but the weekend's break helped color fade. I, too, have random twinges from time to time, glad to read that others have that, too. Am hoping that this 3rd week comes and goes uneventfully.

     I like the slam dunk metaphor -- I'm definitely going to remember that tomorrow when I slam my gown in! 

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  • grama5
    grama5 Member Posts: 81
    edited March 2010

    Good Evening, Where I go they gave me a little smock to keep throughout the 6 1/2 weeks. It looks like a short, to the hips, japanese robe with a tie at the waist in lavendar and greens. They told me a lot of women wear it in when they come instead of changing there, but I go straight from work so can't do that. It doesn't bother me the few minutes it takes to change and I've never waitied more than a few minutes and they are there to get me. I don't like the hospital gowns either, they never cover properly.

    9 down 24 to go and no problems yet, hope it stays that way i don't have time to feel fatigued and its necessary for me to continue working.

    Flo

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  • fan2544
    fan2544 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010
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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited March 2010

    Arghhh... I asked if I could skip the gown and just come in and take my shirt off in the radiation room, and they said NO... basically just because it's procedure and easier for them if everyone's in a gown.  I'm frustrated.  But I did try and get some satisfaction out of slam-dunking the gown at the end.

    I had to wait a few minutes for the radiation room to be available today, and the chair to wait in is right across the hall from the entrance to the radiation room.  The door to the radiation room has always been open when I was there, but this time it was closed, and thus I saw for the first time that it has this big orange and yellow sign on it: "CAUTION: HIGH RADIATION AREA," with those "danger" symbols all over it.  My stomach felt heavy as I sat there staring at that sign.

    Oh, and it's Chickweed tea that I'm "not allowed" to have.  I may continue drinking it anyway...I don't think Western/conventional medical people even understand Chickweed.

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  • Sugar77
    Sugar77 Member Posts: 2,138
    edited March 2010

    Raili - don't feel bad...I took my natural "aluminum free" deodorant for them to have a look. All of the ingredients are natural but they took a look and said that I couldn't wear it on the side being radiated.  I was told I could drink green tea, though. I had also been taking Biotin for hair growth since chemo and they said no to that, too.  

    The way I have to look at things is it's in my best interest to follow what they say in order to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment because I only want to go through this crap once!!

    I had a much better time today because I was more comfortable.  I hope everyone had a good day today.

    Sherri 

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited March 2010

    I was told green tea was okay but green tea extract was not okay along with vits A, C & E.  The reason was that all contain antioxidents and as much as the antioxidents give a boost to the healthy cells, they will give a boost to the cancer cells too.  I have to say, that makes sense to me so I will not be taking any multivitamins during Zap Season.

    Raili--you have asked about coconut oil.  I was specifically told No Oils of any kind--no calandula oil, no vit e oil, no coconut oil.  Oil can intensify the radiation [think the old evil baby oil on the college dorm rooftop] which can result in burning.  I asked about doing it the night before and then washing it off and the Zap Nurse said Nope because you have to scrub to get it off and they don't want you rubbing hard on the radiated skin.  HOWEVER, I can use it After Rads and it will help then because the skin will still be healing and repairing itself.  Also no gels---as in aloe vera gel--because they have additives and alcohol.  But its okay if I have an Aloe Vera plant to break off the leaves and squish the jel directly from the plant onto the bad boobie. Aloe vera plants can often be found for sale in the grocery store and if you get them in the right window, they grow like a weed.

    I don't know anything about what chickweed tea is supposed to do but in general, my Zap nurse said Moderation was key as far as food and drink.

    Hope that is useful.  I did a separate longer post on my first day of rads and what happened--its also on the rad forum.

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited March 2010

    Hello ladies it is safe to use Toms of Maine deodorant? It is aluminum free.....I cannot remember where I read that and I bought a lavender scent and it is smells okay so I figure it is better than nothing at all.......

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  • Irishmom
    Irishmom Member Posts: 52
    edited March 2010

    Hi girls - Raili - the same thing happened to me today, my appointment was changed from 345 to 130 and the office was a bit busier than usual.  I hated see that sign and the sight has stayed with me all day.  Also right after treatment the therapist' came in and removed the stickers that were placed on me 11 days ago, she said that the machine indicated for the last 3 treatments that the markers needed to be changed, so off they came off, like a bandaid that had been on for 10 days, and it hurt like hell, I was even left with small little blisters (not like big ones, but the skin is really disturbed now), then they placed new sticker and marks on the new spots.  I don't ever remember reading about that happening to anyone else, I just hope its normal.  I hate every part of this radiation, can't wait for it to be over.  Today was treatment #10. 

    Hope everyone is doing well, and having an easy week.

    Kathy

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  • c2will
    c2will Member Posts: 91
    edited March 2010

    I had my first boost today, 4 remaining.  I have to learn to relax my arm in this position, but it's a little difficult, since it's new to me.  I'll probably master this on the fifth and final day.  The center was backed up since they had a little flooding from heavy rain last night.  I finally got to read a few pages in my book, instead of two sentences. 

    The fatigue is hitting in the late afternoon.  I left work early (great boss!), and took a half hour nap when I came home.  I'm also beginning to itch, not intensely.  I'm hoping it doesn't get worse.

    June - I use Tom's of Maine deodorant, but I don't put it on until after treatment (morning appointment). 

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  • irish47
    irish47 Member Posts: 109
    edited March 2010

    Ok my rad treatment starts tomorrow.. going to ask if I can borrow the purple marker to cross off the days on my calender :-)

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited March 2010
    Raili I also slammed dunked my gown today and I thought of youLaughing
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  • charmainejensenvoisine
    charmainejensenvoisine Member Posts: 369
    edited March 2010

    Well I learned today after radiation therapy that the last 5 RADS (are BOOSTS).. so starting tomorrow Wed March 24th and finishing up the last Tuesday of this month....

    Charmaine

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited March 2010

    June: At my treatment center, the deodorants they suggested were Tom's of Maine or Crystal Stick. I'd been using both of those prior to all this and find them good unless the weather is very hot.

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  • bestillandlisten
    bestillandlisten Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2010

    Hi, y'all!

    I'm joining late, but glad to meet you all!

    I had my last chemo on Jan. 18 and started radiation on March 1st. I'm in my fourth week, and have just had a few fatigue crashes in the past week. 

    My oncologist had said that new studies show that you need to wait 6-8 weeks after your last round of chemo before radiation or your skin will be too sensitive to the radiation.  Anyone else heard this?  Anyway, they had me start at 6 weeks after my last chemo.

    A lady who's at radiation with me had her last chemo in November and just now has that short hairdo that you can go out without a hat in.  So it takes about four months to have hair that you would show in public. :D  I'm hoping mine will be about there the end of May.  I'm still waiting for some of those hair follicles to wake up!  Weird that it's so much faster to start where you DON'T want it! ;D

    I'm planning to get a hysterectomy and oopherectomy after radiation (maybe June) so as not to have to take tamoxifen and because I had such weird hormone problems during chemo.  Instead of making my periods stop, it made me start every round until the last one.  Had crazy body reactions to starting my period each time, so my oncologist suggested I get the surgery.

     Will continue to read your posts to see how everyone is doing in treatment.  God bless us, every one.

    Beckye

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