January 2011 Rads

Hi, I am GIngerbrew, usually just Ginger.

I go see my Radiologist for the first time today.

  I finished chemo about 6 weeks ago. I had to end early due to neuropathy in my hands and especially my feet. I still have it but am hopeful it will go away. It makes it far to easy for me to fall over because I can't feel, what I can't feel. i.e step on one foot with the other and don't know exactly why I can't move my foot and wham I spin around and blammo I am face down on my couch. 

I am super fair and already have some sort of skin breakdown under my affected boob.  I am mostly nervous about skin breakdown and burning badly.I just read on here about putting a panty liner onder my boob and it is agreat idea. If I can keep it dry I think it will help alot.

I had a shingles injection just before chemo and am glad I did.  My friend got it during chemo and it was really hard on her. Get your shot if you can. Chemo was very difficult for me and I can't imagine shingles on top of that.

I just found out that there is this group, I had read some on the dec group this past week and found it hekpful. It is good to be able to come somewhere and be with people in the same treatment. I think these BCO boards are wonderful! 

GInger

Gingerbrew - good luck today.  I hope you enjoy Dr. Hunter.  I just left there after #9, woo-hoo.  Let us know how it goes for you.

I guess some of us are doing Dec and Jan rads - I will be going into Feb too!

So far, so good.  Slightly tender nipple so they put on some cortaid and taped it down during rads and said that should take care of it.  I love the warm blankets today as it is cold.

I did find out this morning that I am not having the Canadian protocol (the number of treatments that the technician told me was no different than the regular treatment times I was given - 30 total, but she called it Canadian.  I confirmed with the rad onc and I feel much more comfortable knowing what I am actually getting!  

First one today and it went fine.  Going to try some aquafor a little later and try to find some emu oil.  I was told I have to get 3 more tattoos tomorrow (I already have three tiny ones - they look like freckles).  

Welcome to everyone here!

Moving right along... 

Barbcard so glad it wasn't shingles. 

 I think I was on and off the table in 3 min. today but I could off.  I think I was at the office 10 min. total today.

Ginger, welcome to the group.  I have neuropathy in my hands and feet to.  I ended Chemo Oct 1st full round though.  I still have a little numbness in my finger tips but not as bad as it was.  Feet are doing better but still have some problems too.  I had some nerve damage in my legs that aggravated the neuropathy from an earlier condition so I am not for sure if it will totally go away for me.  Taking hot bath will help or soaking your feet in Epsom salt and hot water/then an ice plunge can also relieve the pain.

Victoria 67, sorry I got the letters reversed on my last reply to you. I couldn't remember which it was. My rad onc said regular multivitamins were fine, but no megadoses. Antioxidants defeat the purpose in large amounts, since they protect cells, and the purpose of rads is to kill cells (at least cancer cells).

Good news, I met my radiologist today and go for cat scan, set up, and tattoos tomorrow. No interesting options like little hearts or anything cool, just dots. So I will likely finish Rads first week of March. He said 7 weeks. I was surprised and impressed at how thorough all the information I received was. It left me feeling more confident and secure in my treatment plans.

I'll check back in soon.

GInger

Ginger - That is great news.  It always helps when you can walk away and know you got all your questions answered and are feeling good about the plan. Tomorrow will be a busy day at the center but once you get a start date, you will fall into a routine and the time will sail by - it will be March before you know it.

Omaz - Good luck on your setup tomorrow.

had treatment #2, another scan (they did one yesterday and the other side of the breast today). As I got off the table, I asked the tech if I could go now and he said yes.  I was almost at home when I received a phone call to go back as the rad onc was waiting to see me for a review since she hadn't seen me since prior to xmas. Grrrrr.  I had to go back to the hospital and meet with the rad onc.  It was nothing serious, but boy I was mad I had to go back, as if going once every day isn't enough?? 

By the way, does anyone know if you are allowed to keep massaging your breast whilst having rads (obviously only until it gets too sore or burnt to do so)?  I was trying to break up the scar tissue a bit and I'm not sure whether I should keep doing it.

Omaz and Ginger - good luck with your setup.

Victoria - I would ask about that one.  I did the massage during rads and ended up with an itchy rash.  I was told that when you massage the skin, it tends to break down and you don't want that during rads.  You really have to be gentle with the skin that is getting zapped.

Question for those that are already in the midst of rads--I don't start till next week--how are your appt times? At my centre---they indicated that they give the appts a week at a time. I am hoping  that you do get some consistent times--as I have two kids to meet from school. I'll inquire more next week at my first appt but hoping that they are accomodating? (Too much to ask maybe!)

Thought I would join you guys from the Dec thread as well.  I will finish Jan 24th if no more delays.  See quite a few have join from the other threads as well.  I have been MIA for the past few days on the computer.  My rads fatique has really hit me and then my father in law had a bad fall on Monday afternoon and tuesday am we had to put him in the Nursing Home.  Dealing with all of that on top of trying to work and do rads.  The last two nights by the time I got home went straight to bed.  If DH had not gotten me food I would have skipped supper.  Luckily I lined up people to drive me to rads the rest of this week.  It is 50 minutes one way on the highway and I get sleepy driving when I get still.   Under my arm is pretty raw right now, but dealing with it with powder and aquafor.  The bottom side of my breast is starting to get dark like my armpit did so I am really hoping I can make it through next week without peeling.

ginger and Omaz good luck today.

Rachel my appts are the same time everyday.  That was set up at the very beginning for me.

rachel5738--My rad times have been consistent throughout.  Had #18 today. One thing I've learned since my DX: you've got to be persistent, even aggressively so, when it comes to "the powers that be."  Especially since you have kids to care for.  Good luck.