July 2010 Rads

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  • Cindi-in-Seattle
    Cindi-in-Seattle Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2010

    Hi all,

    I'm due to start radiation therapy next week.  Just finished my positioning and tatooing this morning and am planning 6.5 weeks of treatment.

    Has anyone found a decent bra that provides some coverage under the "soft t-shirt" that they are encouraging me to wear?  What have others found that works?  Somehow a braless 57 year old professional doesn't seem like a great option at workWink

     Thanks for any help and for starting this posting.    Cindi

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  • LoveCranes
    LoveCranes Member Posts: 39
    edited July 2010

    bailey1958 - I agree cancer sucks but to me the worse part about the entire journey is the waiting...and waiting...the poking...the prodding....and waiting.  I hope your results come back negative.  ((hugs))

    Cindi-in-Seattle - I never thought about 'what' type of bra to wear. I hope someone comes back but I was planning on buying a tank top to wear under my t-shirts or shirts.  Tongue out

     I'm finally getting prep for rads and hopefully will know by Fri when they will start.  Yesterday I got marked with these little pellets (one on the left, right and center).  I hope they get it removed because now I know how the princess felt in the Princess and the Pea story.  I swear I would just lay on my left side and I can feel that little pellet, same with the right side.  I finally had to put a really soft pillow under me just to get comfy.  I personally didn't think I would be able to feel it, I mean I not thin and have some cushion around me.  Oh well.. at least things are starting to finally move and I can get on with the treatments.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited July 2010

    Lovecranes.....

    Wore my most comfortable one.....La Perla w/padded underwires.  I found I wanted the support and I wore a bra all the way through.  You do need to think about glop and good clothing, and this one has light padding, plus is loose with extra padding on underwires, so absorbed the excess glop.

    You really don't need to worry unless you get oozing sores, and that won't happen until towards the end, and only if you are unlucky.  I never got more that a bit of peeling skin and a bit of redness.

    About three weeks post rads, when I no longer needed the heavy creams, I went back to the remainder of my bra wardrobe.  I never did wear any of the T shirt/camisole stuff.

    Hope this helps.

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited July 2010

    Hi all - rad #1 tomorrow.  I'm excited to get started, but now that I know it's here, I'm suddenly very nervous and a little scared.  I'm sure it will be better than I'm imagining, I just don't want to cry....hugs to everyone.

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  • Chicago1018
    Chicago1018 Member Posts: 147
    edited July 2010

    Hi karenlen--

    They told me not to start tamoxifien until rads were over because they said it could potentially make the skin changes worse. 

    Good luck! 

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  • bailey1958
    bailey1958 Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    Love  Cranes - thanks for support and hugs.

    Good news for me today - my ultrasound did not show anything in the area picked up on the MRI. I must say I am enormously relieved. I have also heard I have my first treatment on Tuesday. Feels nice to have all of you to go through this with. 

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  • pagowens
    pagowens Member Posts: 194
    edited July 2010

    Hi All,

    I started rads in late June/early July and had my 11th of 33 treatments earlier today (or yesterday since it's now 12:30 am).  Finished 6 months of chemo on June 1st and had to wait the month to start the rads.  Had a lumpectomy last December - opted for that rather than a mastectomy...hence, the radiation.

    I'm finding the biggest challenge is to get up the energy to do this every morning (7:50 am appt).  I can see it is another endurance test.  My skin is doing fine, so far, but the woman who goes in right after me is about 10 days ahead of me and her skin is not doing so fine.  So, I'm getting pretty nervous about it.  I've been using cocoa butter, Lubriderm, a cortisone cream with aloe (anti-itch), and Eucerin topped with a spray of Solarcaine with aloe.  I know that's overdoing it - but I'm hoping one of them is working long term.  At the very least, decorating my radiation area with all this goop keeps me distracted from whatever sizzling stuff is going on inside.

    I'm wearing my regular bras to work daytime because, quite frankly, I need the support.  At home, they are off and I'm not wearing any bras. 

    It's my right boob along with underarm for the lymph nodes so the machine positions to 9 oclock, 12 oclock, 4 oclock and also 6 oclock.  It took me a while to realize that they are radiating my clavicle from the back....hmmm.  when I see the doc on Monday, I'm going to find out why.  I'm worried about my lungs. 

    One funny story:  Every morning for radiation treatment I go into the changing room and take off my top and bra and put on the hospital gown and the warm fuzzy robe they gave me as a present the first day.  On the table in the rad room it's just the gown with the right arm out and right boob exposed along with my pants and shoes.  So, last Friday, I got changed, got in the rad room and took off my robe, as usual.  The tech looked at me and said, "Hmmm...why don't you have your pants on?"  Yup, I looked down and there I was in my bright red underpants - no pants on.  "Hmmm" I said, "I have no explanation for that."  We laughed did the treatment and I got dressed and went on with my day. Next treatment day the tech smiled at me and said, "I see you remembered your pants today."  I laughed and got on the table as usual... but what she didn't know was that all the way to the center I kept repeating to myself, "I must keep my pants on...I must keep my pants on..."

    Chemo brain must be the longest remaining side effect!

    Nice to meet y'all,

    Pat

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  • changes
    changes Member Posts: 622
    edited July 2010

    Hi Pat,

    I loved your story! Thanks for sharing it :)

    Karen

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  • AnnieBear
    AnnieBear Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2010

    Hi!  I've been reading this board since I was diagnosed with DCIS but this is my first posting. I'll be starting radiation therapy too this month.  This whole journey has been overwhelming - so much contradictory information.  Even among the doctors I've seen.  But, I feel very blessed to have my cancer found early and to have it be very treatable.  I'll be doing radiation therapy (28 treatments and 8 boosts) and also Tamoxifen for the next five years.  I'm also waiting to see if I am HER2 positive.  Ahhhh... always something.  Good luck to all of us July gals (and guys, if there are any).... May our side effects be few. 

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  • MagPag
    MagPag Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2010

    Very funny, Pat!   Reminds me of the day I went for my pre-op chest x-ray.  The tech handed me a gown and walked out.  Turns out it must have been a child's size...I've never seen one that small.  So I walked down this long hall arms crossed over my chest to keep it closed.  I get it there and the tech is giving me instructions on where to stand etc and says 'now put your arms to your sides'.  I did, and well the gown just popped right open.  Boy was he surprised!  Couldn't have been nicer and politly said, 'excuse me miss, you may want to have the opening in the back!' :)

    Finished 8 of 16 regular teatments today.  Half way thru plus a few boosts.  Hope you all have a great weekend break. Donna.

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  • marita15
    marita15 Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2010

    Hi Anniebear,

    We are in the exact same stage and time frame for rads as I started on July 1st, and tamoxifen about twenty days before that.  It sure is an up and down kind of thing, I don't feel like myself at all, and am sick to my stomach sometimes and feel like an old lady!  The cancer ward is very depressing, and emotionally it is trying going every single day and seeing all of these sick people.  

    Please let me know how your progress is going, you can do this!

    marita15

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  • waltersren1
    waltersren1 Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2010

    @pagowens thanks for the laugh.I literally laughed out loud.I really needed that!Just finished my ninth of 33 treatments today.Hope everyone enjoys their 2 day break.

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited July 2010

    Hi Everyone!

    I'm back from vacation and start radiation tomorrow.  I will be having 28 treatments.  Any words of wisdom to share?  I'm not nervouse (yet) but am a little sad if I think about it too much.

    Kim

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  • bennybear
    bennybear Member Posts: 326
    edited July 2010

    Hi,   I don't know if I should be in June or July,  I started June 28 and was also bummed out about holidays,   I know it seems shallow in light of everything but they are important for our sanity.   I am now finished 14 of 20 treatments and doing not too badly,  I am slathering glaxal base creme three or four times a day, the only thing my cancer centre allows and it seems to be helping.  

    I found some great Bali bras that are all cotton and I bought them larger. 

    I am hoping I don't get too bad so I can reschedule our holiday,  we were supposed to be on a cruise in early July.  This year it seems biopsies, surgery have made havoc with birthdays, anniversaries and holidays.  

    I was told to use EMLA cream for the sentinel node,  to dull the area and it really helped.  

    Glad to have found this group.  Best wishes to all

    B 

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  • LoveCranes
    LoveCranes Member Posts: 39
    edited July 2010

    Ok I think I'm ready for my first rads session tomorrow.  Nervous but glad that I'm moving forward with treatments.   I noticed that a few of us are starting tomorrow too.  Good luck to all who is currently going through rads, who will be starting and congrats to those who are finished.  Wishing everyone well :)

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  • bailey1958
    bailey1958 Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    I am thinking of all of you tonight - feeling a bit sad like you Kim. Good luck to everyone tomorrow - I start on Tuesday and wish it was over already. I feel scared - not of the process but because of what it does to our bodies - it feels kind of inhumane. So, I should try not to think about that and probably keep my inside voice from speaking through my fingers so I don't drag others down into the pity pit with me and just be grateful there is a treatment for us. UUUGGGG!!! Sleep well warrior women - we will thrive.

    Sonia 

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  • leklovessrk
    leklovessrk Member Posts: 18
    edited July 2010
    I started Rads on July 13th.  Was diagnosed in March, had a lumpectomy in April and re-excision in May.   Had a cruise planned since last year for the week of June 28th.  Talked to my Radiologist and he told me to go on the cruise and have fun.  I could start when I got back.  I've got to tell you, I was nervous as hell to wait so long but I went on that cruise and had the time of my life.  I guess what I am saying is, you have to live life to the fullest NOW and not always worry about the future.  I am so glad I went on that cruise.  As I said, I have started the rads and so far, not experiencing any problems.  I am in and out in 10 minutes.  I just have to get used to adding it to my schedule for 7 weeks.  I hear my skin will get red and painful but I look at it as just another hurdle to jump.  When I am finished with Rads, I will have surgery to have my remaining ovary removed.  No tamox for me.  Best of Luck to you lovely ladies having Rads in July.  Keep your chin up and remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 
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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited July 2010

    Had my first treatment today (27 more to go!).  I was really shocked at what a big area is being treated (it is a 7x7 sized box they drew on my chest).  The tech said the rads hit at an angle so it isn't as scary as it looks but if that is the area that is going to get red and painful, it is huge!  I also got 4 more tatoos today for a total of 8. They look like blackheads to me, not freckles - I think they should use brown ink.  Hope everyone is doing well today!

    Kim

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  • bennybear
    bennybear Member Posts: 326
    edited July 2010

    Kim Sonia and Love Cranes,  hope the treatment goes well,  I think the waiting is hardest and it does seem weird that the radiation is good for you. 

    Leklovessrk,  glad you went on the cruise,   I think you do have to have positive things going on too.   Probably helped how you were feeling. 

    I agree about the brown ink,   they are blue black  LOL.

    Today I am 75% done,  so hope to plan a holiday to recuperate/celebrate.  

    b 

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  • pagowens
    pagowens Member Posts: 194
    edited July 2010

    Hi All,

    Hugs to those of you feeling down - very understandable - this process is inhumane.  I'm wishing that treatment was more like what Star Trek does...a monitor that runs over your body and fixes it with no side effects.  A couple of beep-beeps and you're done!

    Leklovessrk - what a nice person your doc is and how lucky to have a very positive experience like a wonderful cruise before this one.  Last December 31st my husband and I toasted 2011 because we knew this year was going to be a bear.  And, it has been.  We're planning a vacation in September - post rads.  We truly need it.  I'm not even thinking about the 5 plus years on Tamoxifen yet...one step at a time seems more bearable.

    I'm going on to my 14th treatment this morning.  The only side effect so far is that I'm really tired at night and in bed no later than 9 pm.  I don't know why the rads make you so fatigued - I guess it's the body repairing itself and all the stuff inside working hard to do it.  My skin is ok so far as well.  I have been having some shooting pains in my right arm at night and the doc says it's another side effect of the body trying to repair itself and is normal.  I'm having a lymphodema evaluation anyway this Friday, just to make sure it's not the beginning of that.

    I did ask the doc yesterday why I'm getting radiated through my back and what's happening to my lungs as a result.  Apparently because of my lymph node involvement, they need to radiate my shoulder area and if they only go through the front, it causes a lot of scar tissue.  Hence, they go through the back to lessen that impact.  A little portion of my right lung (top inside part) is affected but the doc says it's very rare to have damage in the lungs from the amount I am getting.  So, I felt better about having at least 90% of my lung not being radiated...hey, what's a little 10% being affected?  If I add in both lungs I've got most of what I need.  :o)

    I can say that even though this journey seems pretty scary at times, I see some folks have it much worse.  For example, I finally asked what those big scary looking masks were in the rad room.  The tech told me it was for those patients who have brain cancer.  OK - that trumps my boob!

    Bailey 1958 - it's ok to have a pity party every now and then.  This stuff is pity-able.  I've found that trying to keep your sense of humor helps - and there seems to be plenty of stuff to find dark humor in during chemo, surgery and rads. And, if that doesn't help - they've got pills for it (they've got pills for everything!).

    BTW, when I joined breastcancer.org I chose Wonder Woman as my avatar because she was a strong, smart, and courageous warrier.  Her story was that she came from a tribe of Amazon women and the Amazons (legend has it) burned off their girl baby's right breasts at birth so that they could wear their armor and develop strength in their right arms and shoulders. So, although Wonder Woman has two good looking boobs, most of the Amazon women looked more like me with one fully developed boob on the left (what I call "me") and one smaller right boob (what I call "mini-me").  So, you're right Bailey1958, we are warrier women.

    Hey MagPag - your story is pretty funny!  We should figure out how to collect all these stories to make other breast cancer women laugh, too. 

    Pat

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  • leklovessrk
    leklovessrk Member Posts: 18
    edited July 2010
    Bennybear and Pagowens:
    Thank you for your positive words about my choice to take my cruise.  I did worry about putting the rads off for so long but my doctor assured me that it would be fine.   I wanted to start and take the week off and continue when I returned but he said that it would not be a good idea.  I have to say that I am kind of glad since my boob got a chance to really heal before starting.  In any case, I have started treatment.  My 6th time is today.  So far so good.  The worse thing for me is walking in the office and seeing all the people suffering with all types of cancer.  Very sad!  Kind of makes me sick to my stomach.   One thing I am experiencing is nipple soreness and my boob is definately swollen.  Not too bad yet.  I meet with the nurse on Thursday, will ask if that is normal.  Just counting down the days till it is all over.  I do lay there on the table and pray that the rads are doing what they are supposed to be doing.  Praying can't hurt and it passes the time quickly.  Hope everyone is doing well!
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  • bailey1958
    bailey1958 Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    Thanks for your kind works Pat. Off to my first treatment - wishing you all a problem free day. Thank-you all for being a part of my support team. Sonia

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  • changes
    changes Member Posts: 622
    edited July 2010

    Hi all,

    Leklovessrk- it looks like we are on the same schedule. I had my 6th treatment today. No burning yet, but I'm starting to feel a tightening sensation under my armpit. The doctor told me to try Aquaphor (I had already been using pure aloe vera). She warned me it will get worse, but everything supposedly heals quickly once the radiation is over with.

    Good luck to everyone!

    Karen

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  • bailey1958
    bailey1958 Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    Hi to everyone,

    Had my first appointment today  - it was a bit long as my whole treatment was changed because the tumor I had removed was not in my breast and so they decided for obvious reasons there was no point radiating my breast but rather to focus on the chest wall around the tumor site. The area I had radiated today is already a different color - is that typical for everyone on the first day? It looks like I already have a little square tan. Curious if this is typical or different for me because the amount and type of radiation is different because they are doing it from a further distance as a result of how it is placed. Hope you all had a issue free day. Sonia

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited July 2010

    Hi Sonia,

    I finished day 2 today (26 to go) and I haven't seen any difference in skin color or anything.  My treatments last less than 5 minutes.  They are doing an area on my chest that is about 7x7 (I had a mx and the margins weren't clear both near the skin and the chest wall).  How many treatments are you getting and how long does each last?

    Kim 

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  • bailey1958
    bailey1958 Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    Hi Kim,

    My tumor was just on the edge of my breast tissue about two inches below my collarbone - 12 oclock and the anterior margin against the chest wall was not clear. They said they couldn't get a clear margin there because there was no more breast tissue left to take out. My radiation is now - as of today 21 treatments - 20 to go. They were going to do 16 with 4 boasts but now they will all be considered the same - no boasts. They said today that I will have a higher dosage because they had to pull the machine further back from my body in order to not have it running into my face - they also strapped this jelly pad to my chest "to fool the machine into thinking there is more flesh there" - didn't understand?? I think the area they are radiating is about 5X4. The actual radiation was 50 seconds but I was told that I wasn't getting standard xray radiation but another kind - can't remember right now what they called it but I will ask again tomorrow. Feel a bit weirded out by the fact my treatment is so different than everyone elses treatment. I also feel a little scared they aren't radiating my breast even though my breast wasn't anywhere near the tumor site.  

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  • LoveCranes
    LoveCranes Member Posts: 39
    edited July 2010

    Houndmommy - I think we're on the same schedule.  I had day 2 today and 26 still to go, but with 4 boosters after that.  They also made the same size for me as well, it sure does seem like such a large area to radiate. 

    bailey1958 - Mine entire right breast looks the same after surgery (I wish I could say it looked the same before I had bc).   Mine was very close to the chest wall, actually my surgeon had to remove a layer that separates the chest muscle and the breast tissue in order to get a slightly clean margin.  It was close but clean, but the rad onco told me that they would do the normal process to radiate the entire breast.   Like Kim said, How many treatments & how long.. that may play a part, but not sure. 

    pagowens - I saw those masks things hanging in the room.  When I saw that they did the targets on the mask by the faces, that scared me even more but made me appreciate that I'm only exposing my boob and feel sorry for those who have it worse.

     bennybear - thanks.  I agree that it's really weird that radiation is good for us.  I still can't get it out of my head about the effects of rads.  I just can't wait to be over with this part of the treatment, but scared about the next step after that...one day at a time.

    It's still scares me about this radiation treatment...but it's only my second day.   Hope everyone is doing fine and wishing you all well.

    Patty

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  • bailey1958
    bailey1958 Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    Hi Patty,

    The adjustment post surgery, radiation etc. is a bit tough to take. Trying to adjust to my scar but today I met a 10 year old boy having radiation for brain cancer - he was a pretty cool kid - seemed to be taking things in stride - I have a feeling I will learn a lot in the next while - certainly felt grateful for my current situation and appreciative too. 

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  • MagPag
    MagPag Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2010

    Hi Everyone,  Hope you all are doing well today!  Bailey1958, I think I'm having the same amount 16 plus 5 boosts. Higher dose per day for fewer days.  I'm having the whole breast and have had changes since day one. Usually red and hot in the afternoon and evening, but better by morning.  Had #10 today and the docs warned that this should be the week it starts to get worse.  The anticipation of what may happen is crazy...almost wish I didn't know what to expect.  In the meantime slathering on the aloe and aquaphor.

    Thanks for starting this string Houndmommy, glad to hear you're underway.  Pagowens thanks for keeping us smiling.  Best to everyone for an uneventful week.  Donna.

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  • bailey1958
    bailey1958 Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2010

    I'm with you Donna. Today the young radiation technologist told me that my skin could dry, crack and open with weeping as a side effect - so good to know :O  OMG seriously hope that will not be my response to radiation. Letting it all hang out tonight hoping the air will encourage the resilient skin gods to bless me with no skin cracking side effects. 

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