August 2010 Rads

Doredou, you're welcome!  We know more about our own bodies than these Dr's and nurses do! 

ECT, Effexor is also given to treat hot flashes but I'd rather use the Neurontin because of fewer (NO!) side effects.

 Hello Everyone.

againmine41 - your sleep regimine sounds just like mine.   Luckily I have no one in the house but Hubby and he has seen it all before so Im able to wear birthday suit as much as I want.

Burn in fold is pretty painful but will kee using cream and see if it helps. 

Main problem is fatigue -  will just keep doing as little as I can get away with. 

Off to bed and try to sleep tonight.   Goodnight everyone.

Hi everyone,

I've done 7 of 30 - only 23 trips to go .  I'm just getting tired of the driving so far, but am starting to sleep in a bit more in the mornings.

Someone mentioned about texta getting on clothing - I've been wearing a singlet (seam free so no rubbing!) and I've found the texta rubs off onto them rather than my clothing.  I googled getting texta off clothing and have found that using methylated spirits (you guys have that in the states?) gets it off like a charm - just pour on and then dab with paper towelling or something like that (just be careful to put some backing paper in the middle so the texta doesnt' go through to the other side of the top and also different fabrics probably have to be careful of too).  Comes right off then I chuck them in the wash like normal. 

Isn't something that we are Not to have different side effects from rads ...but do. I believe each of us responds different to it, yes there are the norms..but, we still may have something a bit not like someone else. 

I'm having the nausea too - the last couple mornings it has reminded me of morning sickness but it hangs on in the background throughout the day. 

The fatigue seems to get better over the weekend and then build up again throughout the week.  Thank goodness the recovery is faster than the chemo fatigue!

Bonnie, I like your "marching, marching to the end." 

That reminds me: Is anyone else doing the Komen Foundation Race for the Cure?  It is coming to my town for the first time on 10-10-10 - great timing!  I've been walking the neighborhood with my pink baseball cap every night getting ready for it.  My team has almost met our fundraising goal and it feels good to be doing something proactive about breast cancer!

I finished a week ago.  The markes do come off fairly easily in the shower.  It feels good to be able to shower without stickers to worry about,.

Bubbalu, 

Yes, I too think it may be nerve endings firing or something. Sometimes it radiates down my back.  I have lymphedema sleeve and gauntlet ( half glove) I wear daily for at least 4-6 hours.  It is a preventative measure. 

Has anyone heard about Calendula Cream?????/

againmine41:  I don't have any breast on the rad side but I do have swelling in the armpit on that side after rads. 

clarity04:  I was told by the lymphodema therapist NOT to wear the sleeve as a preventive measure.  Only when experiencing lymphodema or when flying.  When my sleeve arrives I'm to wear it for an hour and if there is any unusal or bothersome tightness to get in touch with her and remove it.

My markings are tattoos and don't come off but they are so small that he has one that he always marks over with a pen.

bubbalu - sorry I think singlet is an aussie term! I think maybe it's same as camisole?? I'm small breasted so I'm not wearing a bra at the moment to hopefully avoid rubbing so am wearing the singlets instead. I do have a soft no underwire bra that I wear when doing ballet.

Hi everyone! Today was number 11 of 33 so I'm 1/3 of the way done. All is still well. Worked out on the eliptical this morning at the gym and some stretching to keep those scar tissue pains at bay. Looking forward to the weekend as I am off.  I haven't worn a bra since the lumpectomy other than a sports bra and I shopped for some soft ones in a looser size. I'm wearing a camisole most of the time now to prevent pain - even a soft sports bra seems painful after a while. While I was lying on the table today I said a little prayer for all my radiation "sisters" out there going thru the same stuff. Helps to know I'm not alone. Seems kind of lonely when it's just you in that big ole room!!

Good morning!    Relative to nausea, I wake up with a very slight bit but itis gone by the time I head out for my morning run/walk.    I find that within 30 minutes of my treatments now I am very nauseated and it lasts for an hour or two.     I noticed the rad breast is swollen so asked about that (asked the rad onc) 2 days ago and she said it is pretty normal.     I'm on day 22 of 33 today and my  pink girl has said she is ready for this to be over!   

I've tried to explain to my friends/family how exposed I am during treatments and prep, naked from the waist up, male techs and female techs walking around, moving me 1/2 inch this way and that, marking on me, sometimes people I've never seen before walk through during the prep, and then on day 2 or 3, I noticed at the control site where the techs sit while I am getting the treatment, you can see a live video stream of the person on the table.   (I actually saw another person getting treatment and could see every detail).    So, I've always been a little modest, but not now!    Watch out topless beach!     LOL

Hope everyone has an easy time today at rads!   Happy weekend,

Againmine41 - yes, I have heard of boob swelling while undergoing radiation treatment.  I have my treatment with UPMC Cancer Centers and in their printed hand-out which they gave me, it says the following:  "Fullness and mild swelling of the breast may occur during treatment.  These changes will decrease slowly over time."  You are not complaining too much at all.  

AnnieBear, thanks. Sometimes I feel I ask them about every little thing and maybe I am being over sensitive. 

Today my rads was cancelled...the computer was down for the machine so I get  a 3 day weekend!!!! Yeah! Time to heal a bit. Took a short walk to get mail (we have to get ours at the Post Office) and was dragging by the time I got home. I don't even think it was a mile total! But did feel good to walk, I miss that. Have a friend who called and she is picking me up to go to Tim Hortons tonight!  I work tonight so I can get the high test! lol. 

I am blessed with the job I have...I can rest/sleep once my consumer goes to bed for the night. Just have to keep one eye /ear out just in case. Blow up my mattress, put the sheets on and ahhhh. I got this job shortly before I found out about my BC...God knew what kind of job I would need! 

Just had #9 of rads today and felt nauseous about an hour after....hmmmm first time that's happened.

for those of you that are nauseous did it go away, if so when?

Well I'm just having a hard time getting these rads started.  The day after my simulation I was supposed to start, I got a rash on my neck/chest area, not even really where I'm supposed to be getting radiation.  Had to suspend for 3 days, go on Prednisone for 9 days and that cleared up and I started on Monday.  4 txs later - by Thursday after tx my skin was so warm/pink and by Fri. morning I had a flaming red burnie itchie rash on my neck under my jaw bone on the rad side.  Went early and showed it to the doctor.  He said it's not even in the area that they are radiating, it's above my collarbone on my neck and a couple other places around to my back.  Stopped rads again for 4 days and gave me a radiation dermatitis lotion (persc. Xclair)  He has no idea what this is and said before I'm treated again he wants to check me on the table lined up.  What is this????  At this rate I'll be doing rads till November.  Anyone else having these problems?  We're wondering if it's related to chemo which I finished June 3.  Any advice or insights welcomed.