May 2010 Rads Group

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  • dieMartina88
    dieMartina88 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2010

    I start rads May 17. rads to spine

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  • kath477
    kath477 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2010

    Good luck to you, Martina! Glad you've joined...

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  • kath477
    kath477 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2010

    Good luck to you, Martina! Glad you've joined...

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  • Leslie1962
    Leslie1962 Member Posts: 233
    edited May 2010

    Hi Luah - wondered where you had been lately! Yes, lets compare along the way. Hope you are doing well.

    Dazdandconfused - Hi Kim! Yes, keep in touch. Hope you are doing well also.

    Have a great day everyone Wink

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  • Ezscriiibe
    Ezscriiibe Member Posts: 598
    edited May 2010

    RM: I hope I didn't step on your toes! I'm a whiner -- about some things. It's okay to whine. I think we earned a bit of it! LOL!

    I know I'm going to be a big baby whiner about have to be somewhere EVERY day at the same time! yuk! 

    But, on the plus side, it means the treatment is winding down. I may still get fatigued and still have to watch for infection, but my taste buds won't betray me and I won't get nauseous and digestive tract pains and my brain functions may start coming back (well, probably not, they were pretty shot before I even started the chemo!) 

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  • Suse64
    Suse64 Member Posts: 14
    edited May 2010

    Hello again ladies, I am happy to report that the boosts are a cinch, haven't had any problems and 3 to go and DONE!!!!!  I saw the Dr. yesterday after my boost, and he said I will be coming back in 3 months for a follow up, but basically am done.  My skin dried out mostly and turned pink, and felt dry, but they told me to stop using the aloe gel, and gave me something that just says burn cream on it, and it worked so well.  Felt none of the dried stretching feeling last night, and no more pains.....all in all it was mostly the fact that it had to be done daily for so many weeks, the only part that was not taken well.  I hope you all have an easy time as I did.  I have been on here, reading and reading, and DH said I need to break off from this, so I will check back from time to time, but wish you all the very best.  SUSAN

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  • joyner1963
    joyner1963 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2010

    Hey Retrievermom,

    Thanks for thinking of me last week.I've been away from the board a while. I just had my 7th treatment today. No redness or warmth to deal with at the moment.  I am feeling just a little more tired in the evenings than before. Nothing terrible, but I am getting sleepy around 8pm !!  I'm continuing to walk two miles and use my exercise bike daily. I'm not going to give up doing as much as I can for as long as I can.  When one of my chemo nurses told me that the only "cure for fatigue is exercise ", I definitely wanted to laugh because exercising during chemo was laughable in my case. But, now that chemo and surgery are behind me, getting back some stamina and energy is very important to me.  I sure hope that all of us in this group continue doing well and that going to rads is nothing more than a drain on our time.  Stay well everyone.

    I am thinking of you !

    Georgia in Alabama

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  • nancy2721
    nancy2721 Member Posts: 50
    edited May 2010

    Hi everyone- just checking in. Had my first treatment today- I am grateful to have the most kind, caring and professional trio of technicians. One down Thirty to go...woohoo! Stay on schedule and I'll be done in time to relax and rejuvenate for my planned trip to Vegas (staying at the Bellagio  :) the week of July 5th. Its going take alot for me to miss one of these appts though I know the drive etc is going to get old real quick. Love and hugs to all of you. Nancy 

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited May 2010

    I hear you all on this being a big PIA!!  I am doing twice a day rads and therefore have to see the rad onc twice a week.  I feel like I am living at MDA these days!  Needs to be done so I don't get too annoyed.  9 treatments down, 35 to go!

    Have a great week, everyone!

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  • Lynndee61
    Lynndee61 Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2010

    Hello....just got my Radx schedule.  I start on Mon.  They had to do two CT simulation scans, PET scan and six tatoos and we have a plan.  My RadOnc is so above and beyond--he called me last Sun after the first CT simulation and explained he was working on my plan and didn't like the amount of radiation that was getting in my lungs~13%....which is an acceptable level he said, but he felt he could do better.  So I did another CT simulation scan in the prone position yesterday and he called me today with good news that they have a plan for me and we start on Monday for 33 sessions.  Is anyone else dong their Radx in the prone position?

    I love this web site--it is so amazing to come together like this to share and learn from one another in our journey through breast cancer.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  • iamgiggles1
    iamgiggles1 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2010

    Hello all you beautiful women. I started my rads today. I have 33 more to go. I dont know what to expect yet. I havent read through your posts yet but I will as soon as Im done writing. I pray everyone is hanging in there and I'm sending healing thoughts.

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited May 2010

    hello everybody.  I start my Rad on Tuesday.  I had another measurment today and will go back Monday for the dry run and tattos.   Yeah...I can get rid of these X's on my chest.  Hope all are doing great with their treatrments.

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  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
    edited May 2010

    Hi all (waving at kittydog).  I go for my dry run on Thursday.  I have 3 of the tiniest tattoos every.  Anyone else told to shave with an electric razor only?  I've been shaving for over 20 yrs and never cut myself.....but now there's pressure to not cut myself  I'll probably cut myself.  I was also told no deodorant on the cancer side.  It's summer in Georgia.  I'm going to smell so very bad.  Ready to start so I can be done.

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited May 2010

    Mom3band I was told the same thing as you.  I was told I could use corn starch for deodorant or this  brand of deodorant. crystalux.  It is hard as a rock and you have to put it on when your under arms are wet.  Then you have to dry off the Crystalux before putting the top back on it.  It sounds like to much work but living in SC it is going to be hot and humid during our RADs time and I will give it a try.  Right now I have not done any sweating.  I think the chemo did something.

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  • joyner1963
    joyner1963 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2010

    Hey friends,

    I love your posts about living in the south during the summer.  Whew !  I'm in Alabama and I am wondering the same thing.  KittyDog, I don't sweat either and I've been so puzzled about it ???

    I don't sweat and I have not needed any deoderant since chemo.   I had a lumpectomy with 25 lymph nodes removed, and I'm extremely numb under my arm, but even before surgery on 3/30, I did'nt sweat.   Oh well.   Who cares.  By the way, I've  all but said good bye to my wig.  It was almost 90 degrees on Thurs and Fri.   My hair looks like a crew cut that is growing out, so my "illusion of hair" will just have to do.

    Have a great weekend everyone.  No  rads for two days !  Yaaay !

    Take it easy everyone.

    Georgia in Alabama

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited May 2010

    Anyone else have a sore throat??  It started after about 10 treatments of rads...mostly just hurts with eating.  I am not sick.  It definitely feels different than a "sick" sore throat.  I know this can happen with rads, but I wasn't expecting it this early.  Anyone else??  Thanks!

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  • JLLG
    JLLG Member Posts: 27
    edited May 2010

    Hi all!  I begin rads on May 25th.  I only had 2 Taxotere and Cytoxan tx's due to an Anaphylactic reaction to it...ended up in the ICU and it was downhill from there.  Well, I have recovered enough to now receive radiation.  I have been tattooed and am NOT having a simulation.  I am just starting...I found this out on the way out of the docs and do not know why I am not having a simulation but I am going to call tomorrow and ask.

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  • retrievermom
    retrievermom Member Posts: 522
    edited May 2010

    I wasn't sweating while going thru chemo, but am now.  That crystal type deoderant just doesn't seem to work.  Any better luck with the cornstarch?  I'm embarrassed that I stink when I put my arms over my head on the rads table. 

    My feet were swollen and are just going down.  The rads nurse said it was not due to rads and to check with my primary care doc (good luck getting in to see him).  The lymph nodes in my neck are a bit puffy, too.

    I'm looking forward to the hair coming in so I can stop wearing scarves/wig.  I'm envious, Georgia.

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  • RegulJ
    RegulJ Member Posts: 244
    edited May 2010

    Hello ladies- just an update from me. :) Tomorrow will be 20/28 zapps for me and I am glad this is almost over!  My skin is holding up so far the redness is not going away on the weekend now- just enough to look like a mild sunburn. I have been burying myself in aloe 2-4 times a day, I have to use a hair dryer on a cool setting to dry up the top layer so I don't stick to my shirts.Tongue out

    I have had some muscle pain- sometimes random, sometimes I feel a general tightening like I have been stuck in the same position for a long time and need to stretch.

    Over all I think I have managed pretty well. 3/4 rad techs are nice with the older lady tech has  been a mild "pill". For one treatment she left me exposed during the CT portion and when it was time for the zapps I asked her to cover me up and she gave me attitude- So I turned to the other tech in the room and she covered me. I asked later why she wanted to zapp me exposed and all she said was "it was the way I was taught."   Well that remark put her on my shit list.  UMM... the room is 60 degrees and I am freezing and shivering- how do you think my shivering is going to affect where the radiation goes...hello!?!?

    Anywho---- :)

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  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 19
    edited May 2010

    Tomorrow is Rad tx #3 of 21. Except for an increase in my GERD symptoms and a bit of aching that only lasted briefly, between my breasts, I am doing fine. I see my RadONC tomorrow following my treatment. They take at least one xray each time I get a treatment.I asked about this and was told that it is to be sure that the radiation is getting to the designated area of the breast. The first two treatments took approximately one hour due to the xrays that needed to be done and reviewed by my doctor each time. I am also receiving my treatments in a prone position and it seems that positioning might be quicker for those who get treatment in the supine position as a result of lying in the cast that was made during simulation. I will discuss modifying my usual cereal, fruit and milk breakfast with my doctor, since  I go for treatment at 7:45 AM and go directly to work afterward. No time to get breakfast before getting to the office and the arrival of  my first clients. Lunch is usually late so I can't skip breakfast without a very painful result. I am also seeing that I have lost my taste for some of my favorite spiicy foods. Probably more the GERD than a direct response to the radiation. The skin near the incision apppears just a bit darker, like the beginning of a sun tan. I am going braless on my days off (Fri-Sunday) and hoping that the leisure bras and sports bras will work during my work days. I am generously endowed and going braless feels very uncomfortable in the workplace. I must admit however that not haivng anything constricting or touching the skin in the area does feel good.

    Yes, I also had digital photos taken of me during the simulation. The first ones were when I was fully clothed but the final three were taken when they made the cast/impressions for the supine positioning.I was given the option and I chose the prone position so they took photos of my back and from the sides. Yes, it was a weird experience. I am using the Hydrophor ointment twice daily since I began my radiation treatments on 5/13/10.

    I started using my Yoga DVD's today. It was good to get back to my practice but I was sure "out of practice". Keeping my balance on my affected side appeared a bit off. By the way, I was allowed to bring in Music CD's during these longer sessions. It really helped with the relaxation and distracting me from less pleasant thoughts. Listening to Jimmy Buffet during rads helped me to imagine lying on the beach, face down in the sand and feeling the warmth from the sun. It sure worked on Friday. Tomorrow, I will bring in my Rod Stewart CD-all new imagery on that one. I was glad to hear from the  techs tell me that the amount of time I am spending on my daily treatments will decrease over the next few weeks-yeah). Hang in there ladies and stay positive. 
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  • RegulJ
    RegulJ Member Posts: 244
    edited May 2010

    Dear Retrievermom-

    Sorry to hear that the crystal deoderant isn't working for you. Have you tried Tom's? It worked for me but I didn't like the stickyness :(

    Also why not just put a wet washcloth in a zippy bag and while you are changing wipe your pits? It might not remove all the smell, but it might lessen it a bit.

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited May 2010

    When I had  my mastcetomy, one of the suggestions given was cleaning the arm pits with alchol if you had smelly arm pits.  It may be worth a try.

    I had my simulation today and got my six little tattos.  I go tomorrow for my first treatment.

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  • retrievermom
    retrievermom Member Posts: 522
    edited May 2010

    I was told products with alcohol are a big no-no during rads.  I think I saw the Toms in the health store; yes, could bring a zip bag to work with me and just wipe before the procedure.

    Got thru to my doc's office to see him about the swollen feet.  Dealing with the receptionist--"not that time, I have radiation in the afternoon."  What about the next day (same time)  "no, not that time, I have radiation in the afternoon."  Repeated until she offered me a morning opening.

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited May 2010

    OMG  You are so right.  I am so glad I checked back.  I was getting ready to clean the green sharpie marker lines off with alchol.  I guess they will have to wear off.  Great....It goes almost up to my neck.  lol 

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  • Dazdnfused
    Dazdnfused Member Posts: 237
    edited May 2010

    Hi girls-

    I had all kinds of fun today as well with the "test run"...they seemed to question the coordinates, so lots of "hold still...you're doing great....don't move....hang in there..." and green marker on, then green marker off, then green marker on again!  About an hour of that!  Woo Hoo.  These green marker dots look like the crop circles the alien machine looming over our heads make.  I don't know how to describe it.  Retrievermom, I had the same experience..."What time would you like?" I said "afternoon" they said, "How about 7:30 in the morning?"  I said "Anything in the afternoon?" and they said "No, 7:30 is what is available."  Ha ha, why ask?!?  I don't know, I have to laugh sometimes.  Abby, thank goodness you posted about the alcohol/not taking off the spots. They really don't say too much about wanting them "kept on" do they?

    Hope all you girls are doing really well!   

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  • Mchan
    Mchan Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2010

    FINALLY start rads next Monday at MDAnderson. Had my simulation today so have a chest full of colored marks. Kinda festive, really. Nice staff talked me through the whole thing. I was fascinated by the bb-filled material that formed my treatment cast. I was told not to gain or lose any weight in the next six weeks. It's the gain part that worries me! Corn starch better work as a good deordorant during this hot Texas summer! The tech did say that they never notice ordors. It's us patients who worry about that.

    Hugs,
    Cher

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited May 2010

    Cher,

    I am currently at MDA for rads so I may see you!  My treatments are usually around 7am and 1pm as I get twice daily rads.  Everyone there is wonderful including all the patients!  There are a bunch of women "graduatuing" on friday with their last treatment!  Yea!  It seems like it is the group of women I have gotten to know so I need to make some new friends in the "holding room."  Ha!  Hopefully I will run into you sometime.

    Lori

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  • labarbera2006
    labarbera2006 Member Posts: 63
    edited May 2010

    Thanks for starting this post.  I have had a recurrence of breast cancer.  Dx in Jan. 2010.  Did some chemo now I have had my 13th tx of radiation.  So far doing ok with txs.  Just tired.  Really don't know what to expect, since I had mast and chemo in 2006.  Just will be glad when the txs are over.  Take care.

    Labby

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  • joyner1963
    joyner1963 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2010

    Dear Labby,

    Welcome to our group. I noticed you are in Franklin , TN. I live in Huntsville, AL. Not to far from your beautiful town.  I just wanted to tell you that I'm thinking of you and to hang in there.  Radiation should not get you down. I had my 11th {of 35} yesterday and so far, no problems except tiredness in the late afternoon.  

    Sending hugs your way !

    Georgia in Alabama

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  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
    edited May 2010

    Just wanted to say I did get one of the crystals for deodorant and it works!  None of the other all-natural stuff worked for me but this did.  I found it at the grocery store!  I have my dry-run tomorrow.  I find it a little funny that I was originally supposed to start May 6 and here we are the 19th and I haven't started yet.  Just mad that it puts my exchange surgery another month back.  Oh well.

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