December 2010 Rads

Grannydukes, The rad ladies always offer me a warm blanket which I happily take. After getting positioned on the table, I am covered completely by a nice warm blanket fresh from the blanket warmer that's in the room. Does your clinic have these kind of coverings available? Hope things go well for you.

Sherryc -  A little of both - I came to it on my own after doing some research on how it has helped to boost immune function and combat the effects of fatigue and other symptoms usually associated with cancer treatements (nauesa and dry mouth in particular for those going through chemo).  I asked my RO about it because I had heard good success stories and they said absolutely yes, and if I didn't already have an outside person, there was a full-time person on staff at MDA.  

To me, I look at it as one other thing I can do to help myself in this battle.  Just had my first one yesterday and it didn't hurt at all and the time passed so quickly.  I'll let you know how it goes!  If you google cancer and acupuncture (or radiation and acupuncture) you get a ton of info - let me know if you want some help finding resources.  

Back from TX #1- a piece of cake today.  Met also with NP to discuss skin care, etc.  They recommend Aquafor or Eucerin (made by same company and essentally the same product).  Next would be the xilair (not sure of spelling) and then hydrocortisone.  If that isnt successful, they wil go to other prescriptions.  I have done acupuncture in the past and love it.

Hi all, done with #10. Anyone a little sore yet? I am.

Barbcard, I will laugh in the rad room tomorrow thinking about the Ms. Liberty statute! lolol . Thnx for the precise rendition of us all. haha

 Hope you are feeling better. I have very few around me, my daughter 400 mi away. When I'm grumpy I'm probably better off alone, lolol. I know how you feel, except it was my best friend who couldn't even call me. And like most of us, this is ALL TOO DIFFICULT to have to also deal with a difficult friendship. Some people think its our job to make life better for them. I am done with that.. My pride is storing up alot of energy for when I am through with all these voodoo treatments and off the emotional roller coaster. Be strong!

For everyone's amusement: my "Radiation" poem, part of series I began since dx.

I'm the Statue of Liberty/ knocked flat, right hand/  grasping a cold strap/where once my torch/ lit the way for all who would enter/my crown split, more gaps than teeth, body/twisted into position/for the rays that will cross,/frolic, burn through my flesh/laid out on a rusting metal slab/while Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer/plays over and over from the hollow harbor below."

Sorry for the repetitions and what appears to be deletions. )

I had my radiation simulation today--it was easy and went pretty fast. Took about 30 minutes--people were great and made sure I was comfortable. I have 4 tattoos--they didn't hurt--maybe my pain threshold is high after all those IV chemo's. Now they said the planner will reconfirm the treatment plan and I will start either first week or 2nd week of Jan. They told me to start with the cream now 3X a day to get my skin ready. Hoping that I won't have skin problems.

i'm back in the December timeline - saw the rads onc today and he said we should go ahead with my planned start date of this Sunday Dec 26th. my breast incision is not yet closed, but it's already 6 weeks after surgery and he doesn't want to postpone rads any longer. he said the hole in the incision will still close during rads but may just take longer.

hope those of you who are celebrating have a good Christmas and a nice break from rads over the long weekend.

Barbcard - love the poem!

michelekb: How rude of that nurse! I've run into similar problems with some of the personnel at my rad center, especially their so-called social worker, who had the nerve to say I was reading the wrong books! (I've started Mukherjee's "The Emperor of Maladies," a history of cancer treatments from the ancient Greeks to the present and high on the NY Times list of the year's top ten books--not morbid, just factual.)

Happy Hump Day Ladies! Only 1 more treatment this week -- woohoo. Like others, I'm glad its a short week.  Had a post-op f/u w/my surgical oncologist today. It was nice to see her. She's very analytical and reassured me that my treatment plan is just right. Wrote an Rx for a diag mammo once rads are completed and then will order an MRI. Once those results are back and clear, she'll take out my port. This is the same plan my onc subscribes to.  Finally remembered to get a copy of my planning CT scan and saw that a note was made about an "enlarged heart."  Surgical onc said its probably nothing, but shld see if onc wants me to do an ecko. More tests ahead-ugh...BUT 18 rads down -- 12 to go!

hello ladies....who said they got a warm blanket..wow.thats great.all i get is my gown covering everything up.but im not that cold now that im wearing lined gloves.

someone else said the room was hot.thats not supposed to be.its supposed to be real cold.dont sound right to me.that should be questioned.

did #6 today.so far so good.glad for the 4 day week this week and next.

27 more to go BUT WHOS COUNTING.

if i dont get back before Christmas.everyone enjoy the Holiday.God bless.

huggggggggggggs

k

I am always offered a warm towel over my arms. Some days I accept it; other days I'm warm enough without, but I appreciate the offer. It usually depends how long I had to stand outside waiting for the light rail. That towel feels really nice when my hands are cold.

G'night all, off to lube my boob.

Hi everyone. I have been reading all your posts, but haven't posted anything myself. I can't say why, but I have been a little depressed lately and just don't know what to say. It has been so hard for me to get into anything, even with the holidays here. My rads have been going ok. I am very pink and itchy but have been managing with the creams my Dr has given me. Today is my last rad. My last 2 were boosts and this is a final boost. I am trying to be happy, but I have this feeling of dread and I can't seem to shake it.

Anyway I wanted to thank all of you for all the posts and good info you have put on this thread. I will continue to read and post when I am ready. Have a wonderful holiday whatever you are celebrating.