January 2011 Rads

CONGRATULATIONS Barbcard2!!!!!!

Congrats to all that have now finished rads, I do envy you as I'm sitting here with ink markings waiting for the rad place to call me (I'm sick of no exercise and no showers).  Went to the surgeon again today and he said no breast inflammation (even though it is red) and my arm pain was probably due to the IV.  I reminded him that I did not have the IV in the left arm, but the back of my right hand.  "It's a mystery then but go and have an ultrasound of your veins done".  I asked him if the rads would affect my arm (I only have that arm that I can use) and he sort of didn't answer until I pushed it and he admitted it probably would.  Not what I wanted to hear and he said do you want to have cancer or not be able to use your arms. NICE!  Had the ultrasound and the tech. said that the veins looked alright and could not see any sign of LE.  Also went to cardiologist and he gave me the all clear to start arimidex (have had two stokes due to ET) after rads.  He's going to do an echo test once I get my tattoos.  I went to 5 doctors offices today (some to pick up path. reports etc.) but I'm all doctored out!  I hope that is the end of all the problems, but I won't hold my breath.

Congrats Sherryc & Barbcard!  That's so wonderful that you have finished, especially since I know your journies were rocky ones.

I've been doing the best I can to stay up with all of the posts but am usually not online over the weekends with the kids running around, so I feel out of the loop!

Had #22 today.  Thursday will be the last full-on treatment, then I do 5 boosts.  Should finish Feb 3rd if all goes well, but we'll see.  Still feel very fortunate that my skin is doing well.  LOL the week my RO was out of town (he's anti-anything creamwise), the RO I did see told me to start using Aquaphor which I did.  Worst spot is right under the armpit where it's getting zapped twice because of the beam placement - getting bumpy and red but it's manageable.  Mostly, I just yawn all day.  Looking forward to having energy back.

So, anyone else glad we are doing this in winter?  I can't imagine being all hot and sweaty in Houston summer with this red burning skin!

I am lucky to be starting this in a week or two..........maybe...........hot in Florida, had to use the air-conditioning in car today!

Marjie, I too am new and I will have my last chemo on Feb 3. I keep reading the posts trying to get all the info I can. I feel like i"m in great hands, so greatful to have found all of you.

A couple of questions, how soon after chemo do people usually start rads?  If you didn't have node involvement, do you still get your underarm radiated?  How long does each session last?   I had such an emotional day, tears just flowing all day just thinking of all this.  I guess its catching up to me.   I too am hoping this is easier then chemo, although I did pretty well with chemo, it does take alot of you.   Do some of you use more than one cream at a time? any special order? A friend offered me her aloe plant to use during rads, anyone think that's ok? Yep, I'm getting anxious, sorry for all the questions.

Congrats to all of you who have finished and (((((((((hugs)))))))))) to those who are on their journey to finsih.  Thanks for all your help.

JoAnn

Hi JoAnn---I waited a little over a month to start rads--and I am in my 3rd week of them. I'm not 100% sure on whether they will radiate your armpit or not--I know that with my node involvement--I have opted to have my axilla radiated--ony decreases chances of recurrance by about 1-2% but I figured that I have done all this chemo--may as well do that. Each session is pretty short--most time is taking to set you up and making sure you are in position--to the mm measurement--the zaps themselves are short--i have 4 zaps all different lengths. I use just one cream -- the one recommended by the techs etc and my skin is holding up OK. My underarm is sore--like achey sore but nothing terrible.

I was a nervous wreck on my first one--when they tried to move me--I was so stiff--just like everything, don't know what to expect. Now, it is easier and going pretty fast. Chemo was much harder and I had pretty easy time with chemo also--you will get through rads!

Hi ladies - I did #23 today.  I feel lucky to be doing quite well.  I have mild tenderness at the nipple and a tiny bit at the node incision under my arm - they do radiate that area for me.  How long it takes depends a bit on which side - I have right side  so they are not having to deal with my heart - I am in and out in under 10 minutes. Some who have left side need to do breath holds so it takes longer. The aloe is great.  I use xclair during the day because it is not greasy and then I alternate pure aloe gel and aquafor the rest of the time.  They told me today that I can feel confident that i won't be getting burns or I would have them by now.  I am fatigued, but still functional. Hopefully, it will go as well for you as for me and also hopefully, saying I am doing well won't be bad luck

Omaz - Not that know or heard of.  My back hurt during rads because the table was so hard.

I AM FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I had quite a day today, friends took me to lunch then we went to the clinic for my last stx.  The staff all came out and threw confetti all over me.  I had been to a wonderful bakery and bought them a deep dish apple pie with ice cream.  The girls have been quite wonderful to me during this time.  After my tx they gave me a gratuation certificate and we took pictures.  Then my friends took me shopping then found a great place for desert and wine.  Got home too late to make it to my yogo class and another friend dropped by with a beautiful pink flower arrangement.  The techs told me I did good through all this will my skin problems and told me the Holidays are the worst time to go through treatment because you are stressed anyway and then because of the clinic closing for holidays it drags out the weeks.  They could not believe how much better my skin looked today.  They admitted it looked really bad the other day but did not want to dwell on it with me and make me feel worse than I already did.  Here is the picture of me and the staff today.

Sherry - What a nice picture.  Sounds like you had a much deserved wonderful day.  WOO HOO!! FINISHED AT LAST!

i think we have a completion.or 2? congrats.im soo dumb lately.i cannot keep up with life,# of tx.dates etc.this bc sure does suk.and i think if i remember correctly we have a newbe.damn.that suks too.my back hurts from that hard cold table.im down to 9 more tx.just want my old life back.

actually i didnt do too bad.so far no real bad burn,not tired every day.

good luck everyone.WE CAN AND WILL DO IT. GOD BLESS.HUGGGGS K

lynda - hi.  Thanks about the dogs - they are so great!  Your dog is adorable too!  I am not from Oakley CA - I'm in NJ, but the name Oakley was from our previous dog who passed away 3 years ago - and we named her after Oakley sunglasses (she was soooo cool!).

Congrats to all who finished!  Sherry - what a great day for you.  Such nice friends!

I have not had any pain with my back - there are some people who have had rads for their breast who were positioned on their stomach, I have heard.  But I don't know much about that.

Finished #16 today.  Just a little achey and more tan than red.  Only 7 more to go and then 7 boosts.  

Woke up yesterday at 4:00 a.m. and could barely breathe. Horrible pain in my back as well as my rib cage and difficult to take breathes.  I was freezing and couldn't even cry!

Was supposed to have my 15th treatment, so went to the center as I had spoken with the nurse who would assess me when I arrived. had chest x-ray, blood work done and saw the Radiology Oncologist who prescribed an antibiotic.  Turns out I have beginning stage of pneumonia aggravated by pleuritis.     The meds work wonders as I can breathe easier today.   Still in a fair bit of pain and exhausted (even though I slept from 7:00 p.m. last evening to 8:00 a.m. today)

Anyone have a similar expereince?

take good care,

Teklya

Teklya--Sorry to hear that. Hope you are feeling better soon. I haven't had similar experience but did get bronchitis during chemo--had chest xray, blood cultures etc done then. It sucks getting sick during treatment but I am sure it will clear up fast.

#12 done today--my skin is holding up well--not pink or anything right now--I am hoping that this will continue. Today was the fastest that I was in, positioned and zapped!