December 2010 Rads

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    IowaSue - Fatigue is a SE of rads.  When you get it depends on each person.  I had fatigue after 2 1/2 weeks and still dealing with it 4 weeks post rads.  The literature says it could last up to a year - let's hope not.  I am able to stay up to my usual bedtime and don't need as many naps.  Do the naps on the weekends.

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  • localgirl
    localgirl Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2011

    Happy New Year everyone!!

    Glad to hear people are getting rest.  I have been napping every chance I get myself - was sooooo tired this morning, although the glass of champagne last night definitely didn't help - I'm such a lightweight!  The instructions we were given said no alcohol but I asked my RO if I could have champagne on new year's and he said no problem.  Let's just say I was glad it wasn't a treatment day today Laughing

    Last night we toasted to good riddance 2010 - onwards to a new and fabulous year for us all!!!

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    localgirl, I haven't been told of no alcohol during rads.  In fact, my rad onc in response to my question about some wine said "do you really think women in Italy and France stop"?

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    raincitygirl - I like your rad onc's response to your question about the wine.  I had a few glasses during rads. 

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  • Barbcard2
    Barbcard2 Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2011

    Dear Everyone--I guess we now have to name this great site January, 2011 rads--But December ladies, let's just go on ignoring the calendar.  For many of us, myself included, 2010 was the year I was diagnosed with cancer, so I'm not sorry to see it pass into history.  I wish I could be as sanguine as my 7 yo granddaughter who said yesterday about a nasty attack on her dog "Oh, that happened last year." Time to think rads again, what has become an ongoing but in some ways surreal ritual. Am I and that lady on the rad table really the same person?!

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    I too wonder who that lady on the table staring up at the artificial star constellations is - for now, this is my normal?  Have to wonder if I will ever feel normal again...

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  • Latte
    Latte Member Posts: 1,072
    edited January 2011

    thought i'd share with you what i was thinking during rads today (my 6th tx) - "what happens if I need to sneeze? should I call out to them to stop the machine, because i can't possibly stay still while i sneeze? will i even have time to tell them beforehand or will it happen too quickly?"

    in the end, the sneeze went away without happening, but it kept me busy thinking during the session...

    Anyone else needed to sneeze while in a tx?

    By the way, I was also told no alcohol during rads - didn't ask why though...

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    I am going to ask about alcohol specifically during rads tomorrow with the rad onc.  I was told if I had to move or thought i might sneeze to holler or wave my hand

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2011

    HAPPY NEW YEAR.GOOD BYE 2010.IM GLAD TO SEE YOU GO.

    im gonna try the tee shirt and then the bra.im a DD and i never ever went without a bra until now.every bra cuts me where my node was removed.thanks for the info.

    tomorrow im doin #10. and yes im finally tired.sleeping like a baby.

    wishing all my sistas good health with a promise of NED forever.God bless

    hugggggggggggs

    k

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    I had a few glasses of wine during rads - my rad onc said no problem - just don't over do it.

    Never had to sneeze but had a terrible itch on my nose - I just spoke up and they turned the machine off till I was done scratching. 

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited January 2011

    Hi, I have my firsyt radiologist appointment on tuesday. Are there any questions you can think of that I should ask him?  I don't know anything about radiation treatments other than I will likely get a bad sunburn. I am very fair, 65, and had a lumpectomy in June then chemo.I also have neuropathy in my hands and feet. 

     Thanks for any insights. 

    Ginger

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2011
    Gingerbrew---bring gloves.the room is cold.not everyone gets a bad sunburn.i did 9 tx.and im just a little tan.just a tiny bit.
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  • susantm
    susantm Member Posts: 184
    edited January 2011

    Gingerbrew, ask which cream or lotion they recommend and get some so you can start on it with your first treatment.

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    Gingerbrew - susantm is right.  Ask which creams you can use and start at the beginning to avoid as much burn as you can.  Also, get some unscented soap and no deodorants with minerals in them.  You can shave under the armpit with an electric razor only.  After some time you won't have to worry about that pit, the rads make you lose the hair there and I know I am over 4 weeks post rads and the hair has not returned.  Don't know if it ever will and that is okay.

    Ask all the questions you want, there is alot of good advice here as well as alot of support.  You may also want to jump over to the Jan Rads thread - but do stay on this one too. 

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  • IowaSue45
    IowaSue45 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2011

    Ask about alcohol consumption. My RO never said anything about it. On Fri. when I was waiting for tx the RO asked another patients wife if he was able to get any beer down yet, I thought that was a strange ? she said he did get a half a glass down, he was getting radiation on his throat, so it must have been ok for him to drink.

    I am 4 wks post TCH and lately my body aches all over, anyone else have this? I have this and some fatigue, I haven't taken any naps or anything, but I don't feel like exercising. I just wondered if anyone else has the body aches, maybe it is an after effect of chemo.

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  • Teklya
    Teklya Member Posts: 435
    edited January 2011

    Wish me luck  I start my first of 25 treatments tomorrow morning.  It is currently minus 25 degrees Celcius in Winnipeg and with the windchill it is like minus 30 Celcius.  All next week the temps are to be about the same.  For the record I HATE WINTER!!!!!!

    To all of you starting with me tomorrow, I will be praying for you all as well as for myself.  To all of you returning to the treatment programs you have begun, you are in my prayers as well. 

    take good care and just breathe. . .

    Teklya

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  • toni30
    toni30 Member Posts: 252
    edited January 2011

    IowaSue- Yes, I had back aches from the Taxol, and it took nearly 2 months for them to go away. I took advil and it helped a little.

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    Hi Gingerbrew - the room I am in is not cold at all, but they offer warm blankets for arms and body. The room is quite lovely really with beautiful sky with lighted constellations, etc. I started using aquafor the day before I started, had a little trouble finding it but Walgreen's had it though Bartell's did not.  Have been using xclair prescription only because that is his preference.  Tomorrow is #8, so far, so good, just fatigue.  I was told that deodorants without aluminum are fine and that soaps and lotions of any kind can be used as long as it is at least one hour before treatment.  I am also very fair and 57, so far not even pink really but my nipple seems a bit sensitive.  Compared to chemo, so far this is a piece of cake.

    As for questions, I was amazed at how ready they were for ME - the rad nurse met with me first, gave me lots of info and insight then the rad onc, who is amazing.  I decided to do my treatments in Kirkland instead of Seattle.  I was given way way more information than early on and consequently feel very secure about the process.

    Here is a pretty good list from Dana Farber:  http://www.dana-farber.org/pat/adult/radiation-oncology/frequently-asked-questions.html

    Diane

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  • spark
    spark Member Posts: 130
    edited January 2011

    Hey all, ok i got some calendula ointment the nurses recommended. but i am confused about when to use it since everyone tells me not to use before radiation. do i put on the night before, then will it be absorbed by the next day??

    thanks for the clarification on DH!! haha!! I don't have one tho! 

    as for alcohol, i was told that it was bc of the dehydration factor and since rads will already be making your skin dry, we should be drinking more water and the alcohol could make all that worse. so they said drinking once in a while is fine, but then to drink more water to make up for it. 

    tomorrow is treatment # 5 for me! 

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    Teklya -Good luck with the rads.  Take really good care of the skin and you should have no problems.

    IowaSue -  I had a few glasses of wine while I was doing rads - no problems.  I would say go ahead if you want to. 

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    spark - my techs and onc told me they just want whatever product you used to be totally absorbed at the time of treatment.  I have been able to shower at 8, put on cream or lotion, arrive at 10:15 and be ready.....i also keep a small tube of aquafor in my purse (samples I get regularly at rad onc) and put that on immediately after treatment.

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  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Member Posts: 1,946
    edited January 2011

    I just finished 16 bouts of radiation two weeks ago..used aloe vera gel and it worked beautifully but radiation is the gif that keeps on giving and within four days of finishing treatment, my skin was red, swollen and sore. Cortisone cream for a week and not just using glalaxal based cream to keep myself hydrated...I bought a 'bra/camisole' a Walmart that has been a godsend...it cost $14 and is put out by Cupid...comes in beige and black....a camisole with support for those of us who are large breasted...I have even worn it to the gym as my sports bra, the only other thing I can currently wear, was chafing the raw spot under my breast. I am looking forward to wearing my lacy bras again soon!

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2011

    Teklya good luck with starting rads this week.

    Spark my instructions on cream was as long as it is not within 4 hours of tx.  So I cream in the am, after tx and at night.

    lynn18-glad your rads is going good for you so far, let hope it stays that way.

    Well I actually had an itch free day on Saturday.  Who knew I could get so excited about something like that.  Had the itch this am but the Kenelog cream is working.  Also taking 1 claritin daily and two asprin daily for the inflammation.   My armpit skin started getting really dark looking last week and my tech said on Thursday that it would start peeling soon.  Well it did over this weekend.  So far not bad, it is tender but with cornstarch and aquafor I am keeping it comfortable.  16 TX left to go (three weeks and one day) who's counting right!

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  • Lynn18
    Lynn18 Member Posts: 416
    edited January 2011

    IowaSue44:  I have not had fatigue yet, but everyone tells me I will probably experience some fatigue with radiation. Maybe towards the end of my treatments?  Hope it's not too bad.

    Latte:  About sneezing during rads, my techs told me that was okay as long as I did not move my arms.

    My doctor also told me don't drink a lot of alcohol during radiation. 

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    Well I am not going to drink a LOT of alcohol, I was just considering and did have a few glasses of wine :)

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011
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  • localgirl
    localgirl Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2011

    raincitygirl - *love* the comment about the European women! Sounds like what my OB told me when I was pregnant - too funny :) 

    Tomorrow will be the my first day doing radiation then driving 45min to work - kind of out of the work mentality after the last 2 weeks of holidays.  Also have a dentist appointment to add insult to injury. Hope everyone has a great week!! 

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  • Teklya
    Teklya Member Posts: 435
    edited January 2011

    Just back from my first radiation treatment.  I found it daunting, such powerful large machines, with the potential to be so helpful and yet, so harmful, sheesh!!.  I had to close my already tearing eyes and look away, I could not watch any longer. 

    They were awesome, (as always) and tried to make me as comfy as they could.  It took a fair bit longer than usual as they did an x-ray and were vigilant about lining everything up well, etc. 

    only 24 more to go!

    take good care and just breathe. . .

    Teklya

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    Teklya - The beginning of rads can be overwhelming and sometimes scary.  BUT, the first is over and the rest will be a walk in the park.  Hang in there.

    (((HUGS))) 

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited January 2011

    teklya - yup, listen to Jo, the rest will be a walk.

    Just finished #8, met with the rad onc and for those who were discussing alcohol, he recommends 1 glass of wine per day for cardiovascular health and says he has no concern if you keep it to that.  More than that makes him a bit concerned.

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