January 2011 Rads

13 RADS done! I have been using deodorant because my radonc never said not to wear it.  Today I asked the techs abour deodorant because so many people in the boards had said they were told not to use it, or were told to only use certain deodorants.  My RADonc says it is OK to use the same deodorant I always used.  That is good because I do not want to go an entire day at work without it!

   Someone mentioned abou their machine going down.  That happened to me last Mon.  I think all machines break down once in awhile, I wouldn't worry about it unless it was a constant thing.  My session was almost over so they just added the time to the next day.

Lots of info from all of you ladies!  I have a heard time keeping up but I am trying!  Some of you have answered my questions-I love your feedback!!  I had 3 treatments and then we had snow in Atlanta which brings everything to halt.  I will miss treatments-does this matter?  I am worried.  I am so relieved they told me not to try to make it when the roads are horrible but I worry!

All of you Texas ladies-I enjoy your posts.  I know where Frisco is and you have an amazing Christmas light presentation.  Very cool!

Hey Canada girls don't think the US has horrible healthcare-I am paying for this treatment but compared to the cost it is very small.  I am thankful. I have choices and I do NOT want the government to be a part of my health care.

Debbie

Michcon -  about my 4th treatment my skin was warm and red to the touch.  The aloe helped with the redness and Miaderm helped with the heat. I get these bolus treatments everyother day and seems to make my skin more red as it radiatiates just under the skin.  I am well prepared for those days now.

A close friend who finished her rads treatments in December saw RO yesterday and he said he did not need to see her any more.  We have the same RO.  She had a two month head start on this journey.  Hope the same is with me not that I don't like him, but I am at a higher risk % of BC coming back than her, so I maybe different.

Paula - Where is Center Valley, KS?  I grew up in Fowler, KS; SW corner near the OK border.

Jen - wishing you no hassles over the next few days so you can get through the 4 make up rads. Hope everyone else's treatments are going well too.

Is anyone experiencing a warm arm as well as breast?  It doesn't feel warm to the touch, more like it feels warm/hot on the inside if you know what I mean from my shoulder to my forearm. I've only had 6 tx's.

I think my radiation is planned to start for the first week in february, but I had my planning session today. I was excited about finishing up chemo last week and feeling that maybe I was going to survive this cancer thing afterall. It was odd...my radio-onc seemed totally doom and gloom. She even went as far as to say if the cancer had moved to the lymph nodes then it was probably already somewhere else in my body and that in the past they didn't really think radiation would do much to help with that...then she said "we're starting to find that radiation does increase the chances of survival for people in your situation." Um, starting to think?

I will admit I've been pretty depressed this last week, which tends to happen to me a couple of days after cvhemo, but she acted like I was already dead!! She went through the path report with me and explained that I had 3 positive lymph nodes (as if I didn't already know this information) and basically said we would need to wait until my cell counts are up. She acted like she was talking to a little kid who had very little chance of survival. I'm so frustrated and upset. I hope everyone else is having a better start to radiation than I am and a little more positive outlook from the onc.

#7 today, energy seems zapped this afternoon, I think it is my Tuesday blues.  Happened last week for some reason.  Saw my RO today, walked in and said "Hey Sweetness", I wonder if he says that to all his female patients or just me.  Forgot to ask.  I ask next week.

What happened to professional ethics in the medical community?  Men can be such "pigs" and some women are just down right cold.  I remember my rad onc as being a moron with the personally of a piss ant.  Just pisses me off.

Sorry about the ranting - but I feel better now. 

Hi Ladies - Just jumping in from Dec rads... ONE MORE TO GO -- woohoo!!  I'm lubed up, peely, itchy and saggy but thrilled to almost be over this hurdle.  My magic lube potion was - aloe vera gel (GNC sells purse sized tubes), hydrocortisone cream, topped w/zinc oxide - the tech recommended this combo when  Aquaphor and Xclair didn't help when I had the severe burn last week (RO said it happens only 15% of the time)  I'm rather large breasted (34H) and can't wear a bra - fun times at work!  I wear cotton v-neck cami's w/spaghetti straps, one boob in/one out so they don't fight or rub, topped w/a cotton long sleeved shirt - the tightness around the arm & pit keep my skin from rubbing.  I wear everything inside-out so the seams don't rub my skin.  Old Navy has the tank's/cami's and I got the long sleeve shirts @ Target.  To disguise the sagging nipples, I got a poncho/wrap thing @ Kohl's, pin it shut and walk very intentionally or hold something at chest level!

I'll stick around to see if I can offer any support to y'all. Hang in there - you can do it!

heathermcd-so sorry about your RO's attitude.  I can tell you that I have a very good friend who had a very agressive stage III ILC in both breast with node involvement.  She had a double MX went through chemo and rads on both breast and is doing great.  That was 4 years ago. You might want to consider another RO with a better attitude, it will not hurt to put rads off a little if that would make you feel better.

Jen wouldn't chef service be great to have.  I know what you mean about sometimes I just don't feel like cooking and fast food just does not appeal to me. DH is great with takeout so I give in sometimes instead of going hungry.

marriedblis-I have to chuckled at the picture you give about your braless getup.  I am lucky that I am small breast and ditched the bra 2 wks in.  Silicone nipple shields have been my saving grace at work that no one knows I am going braless, pluss my nipples have been sore and that has helped protect them.  My RO suggested that I get them and they have been great.  Good luck on only one more to go.

CMF it is pretty rare but it can happen you should talk to your RO about it and ask how close they were to your lungs with the planning.  I've read that you can have leasons but I don't think it causes any real problems.

I have 3 more regulars tx and 6 boost left to go.  My RO said my skin looks really good (even though I am peeling like a snake) so if it still looks like this next week even though I finish on a Monday he will not make me come in for a skin ck on Tuesday.  I can wait for my 3 month check up to see him.  Also this cancer was my 2nd lumpectomy on my left breast and it is smaller than the right.  I have been planning on having an implant to fix the lopsisdedness.  WE talked today and he told me I should be OK to go forward with in July depended on what my PS says about it.  Will wait on that appt until some of the swelling goes down.  It feels good to finally be able to start planning the future.

Good Luck to everyone!

#7 today.  I can feel something sort of "twingey" deep within the breast, unless my mind is playing tricks on me.  Also, feel a little tug in the armpit area.  I had many nodes removed and have a nasty scar there, so maybe just the constant having the arm up in that unique position is all. 

Also, I still have my port.  It is causing me a lot of grief.  The actual port part moved and seems to be pulling the tubing with it.  It is red and hot to touch, aches constantly and is driving me nuts.  I have told everyone that will listen and finally they have decided they will remove it this Friday!  I pray I can make it 'till then.

take good care and just breathe. . .

Teklya