October 2010 rads

DiamondGirl-  Sorry, I just don't trust the doctors who are so cavalierly ordering unecessary x-rays, scans etc....(usually more for their liability than our need), exposing all of us to radiation.  I am still upset about the PET/CT scan I had before chemo.  It exposed me to so much radiation that I had to stay away from pregnant women and children for something like a day. I had so much radiation in my body, it would have been dangerous for them.  I also have real concerns that the TSA will not allow an outside party to test how much radiation these machines are exposing us to.  Very interesting article.  It does point out that if we accumulate a total of 250,000 mrem of radiation, it increases our chances of cancer by 10%.  My PET/CT scan was 3,000mrem, not to mention all the other mammos, x-rays and tests I have had.  Does anyone know how much radiation we are getting from radiation therapy?  I will ask my RO on Monday.  The former head of the American Cancer Society (a doctor and BC survivor), says she is declining ANY uncessary x-rays, scans etc.... Here is another good article about how we Americans get more x-rays, scans etc  than any other country and the risks:AMERICANS GET MOST RADIATION FROM MEDICAL SCANS

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/14/radiation-health-american_n_611035.html

Yes,I'd definitely want to know how much exposure we are getting from our radiation treatment!!

Hi Diamondgirl.  Sorry you're having such a hard time with your skin.  The topicort will help. I used the benadryl lotion.  Forutnately, I went to treatment early in the the morning, so I was able to apply the benadryl throughout the day and night.  Just had to shower before treatment.  It will get better, I promise!  I'm also one of the fatigue sufferers...arghh.  I'm two weeks out, and it still comes in waves, but not as bad or as often. 

CONGRATS Diamond girl!!  You must be so relieved to be DONE!

The skin in my clavicle area is pretty fried, so we are going to do the 5 boosts now and do the last 4 or 5 regular tx after the boosts.  That will give that area time to heal.  The rest of my chest/armpit area is very pink, but holding up pretty well.

Just had to pop in and see how everyone is doing.  Manyof us reaching the finish line.  So great to be done before the end of the year.  I am almost 3 weeks past end of radiation now.  Skin has stopped peeling and I am just a little pink along my collar bone so I am starting to feel like I am DONE.  Started on my little Femara pill a week ago and sort of waiting to see how that part of this journey goes.  Always something!  Good luck to everyone finishing up!

Just a question. Anyone feeling worse now that radiation is done. I finished last wed. Skin really started breaking down ab 2 days later-using 2 diff gel pads to try to calm it down. In past, I did saline compresses right after rads, then aloe and aquaphor, but didn't do the saline after the last treatment-everyone was home for the holiday. Am also feeling exhausted-more than when being radiated-so was wondering if this is what many are experiencing. RO told me not to worry-expected. I thought energy would pop back after rads. Thanks

Joan, thanks. I guess I had hoped skin would hold up since didnt have any breakdown prior. And thought I would gradually feel better after rads stopped, but you are right-just figuring out what SE s will come along.

Deb

Diamond Girl... my onc didn't feel I needed any blood work done when I saw him a couple weeks after finishing radiation.  My blood results have always been quite good.  I did request to have my Vit D level checked again though.  I was shocked to find out that I went from 28 prior to radiation and am now at 14.  And this even after I was taking about 2000 IUs of D3 all through radiation.  Doc is supposed to call me soon and let me know the plan to get that back up.  I think that the radiation is responsible for depleting my Vit D. 

Joan and CT124, where do I see Vit D on the blood report?  Has anyone looked at their CA 27.29 (it is the tumor marker), anything less than 40 is good.  Mine is now 10 from 13 (before the rads), however, the Segmented Neutrophils has shot up to 79 (high side) and Lymphocytes is 13 (low end).  The platelet count which dropped 42 points is disturbing

I think I should start taking the Vit D3 now, and I am also to start my Tamoxifen right away.

The skin is still red and started to peel and painful because it rubbed against my t-shirt and can't wear a bra yet.  Underarm is still swollen and has a bit of burning.

DiamondGirl... Your Vit D level does not show on your CBC report.  It is a separate test that you need to request from your doc.  Be sure to ask it for it.

My ONC uses the CA 15-3 tumor marker test instead of CA27.29.  Level with that one needs to below 32 and I scored an 8 six weeks after chemo.  He also uses the CEA tumor marker test which I scored very well one also.  I am going to  request to have those done again in January.

Hope that everyone is enjoying a nice weekend free from rads and recovering from rads.  I have just a little bit of pink skin left on my collar bone today... no big deal.  I am three weeks past my last rad.

Carolyn ~ Wooohoooo, congrats you are done!!!

As for me, I went to the urgent care this afternoon due to skin rash appearing on my face and ears and left upper arm and it also spread to the stomach from the left breast.  The dots looks identical to the ones on my radiated breast.  I knew it would be tough for the doctor to diagnose, it could be (1) what I ate on Tuesday night, which was a small bite of Melba toast kind of thing and instantly my lips and tonge was itchy.  Wed morning, my right ear started to itch a little and it just grew like wild fire.  The right ear was red, hot, itchy and swollen.  Then dots was on my cheeks and upper left arm.  Then Friday went below my left rib area and appearing on the upper left arm.  It is just so weird.  (2) it could be a virus, a big maybe b/c my DH is a bit under the weather, and (3) radiation dermatitis.  So the doc is leaning on radiation dermatitis.  I got rx for the rash and the prednisone to deal with it for several days.  Just when I thought I was done and can take a break

Tina, my platelet count is in the low 200s, and ladies thanks for the clarification.  I wonder why I have to ask the med onco for tests, shouldn't that be prescribed anyway?  

Hi Diamond Girl-  My first onc had in house blood work so before each chemo or doc visit they would draw a ton of blood and on the following visit my onc would tell me if anything was wrong.  She did special order the vit d test.  I have had tumor markers tested and unfortunately they have always been either high normal or just high.  My highest number has been in the 90s.  I will have them retested in January prior to a follow up visit with my new onc.  I asked my new onc to order a Vit D test.  She wants me to take a month off of my Vit D supplement to see what my numbers are.  Unfortunately, I haven't kept copies of all my blood work so now it is in three or four places. On the other hand if I had the info I would probably worry even more!

Joan

it is encouraging to hear that your skin is improving. Hope I will be reporting this next week. Expander still really tight on that side, but as swelling is going down, this is feeling better.

riley

had skin sloughing also-RO recommended mepilex dsgs-they were wonderful. They are self adhering and in about 3 days- no more weepy skin. What a difference they made. Awful pain went away. I am 2 weeks out and really healing. Hope you are feeling better

Diamond girl

I also do my labs through MO, then take copy of reports to RO. My plts and hgb/hct stayed pretty good. My wbcs were low but stayed above 2 so I was able to complete tx. Hope you are feeling better.

Listening to many of you it sounds as though you have had markers drawn. My MO wanted to wait until 4-6wks after rads. I wish they had been done after chemo loke Joan. Would have like to have seen that all this tx is working.

cmksocal... congrats!  Another Rad Grad!

Congrats CMKsocial. 

Good idea Diamondgirl and CT 124 I will call onc #! and get blood work faxed to GP or Onc #2.  I really need to sit down and write out all that has happened medically. Yesterday someone asked me when I had chemo and I actually gave the wrong month.