January 2011 Rads

Marl5900 - There are several good websites that will give you information on Tamoxifen.  But basically it is a hormonal therapy drug that blocks estrogen from getting to the estrogen receptors in the breast and stops production. Cancer cells can not grow which is what we want. I is usually taken for 5 years although some have taken it for a couple of years and then are switched to one of the AIs.   I have been on Tamoxifen for 3 weeks now with very minimal side effects.  The biggest SE some are concerned about is hot flashes.  It is also supposed to be better on the bones vs the the AIs. Each person will tolerate the drug differently and you will have to figure out the best time of day to take it.  For me, I find if I split the dose and take 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night - that is working best for me.

Hope this helps - also go to the thread Bottle O' Tamoxifen - great thread. 

#12 of 36... yay, I'm 1/3 of the way thru!  (not that I'm counting, hehe).  The last couple of days when I woke up my breast hurt-- it felt like it weighed a ton on my chest all night , like I slept with a brick reting on me (I'm sleeping on my back).  Don't notice as much when I'm up and walking around during the day.  Nothing I can't live with, but I did try a 1/2 vicodin this morning.  Not sure if the vicodon helped or if it was just being upright and moving.   Anyone else have the heavy breast feeling?

Went for my rads planning session today and I'm a tattooed woman now, lol.  My first session is not until March 2 which is exactly one month after my last chemo.  Gee....just got here and now I guess I must move on to a March forum!  Very thankful for all the great advice though!!

Margie, did they tell you how many sessions? recommend certain creams?  I will probably be starting close to you, my last chemo is feb 3.  How long did the session last? Can you tell I'm getting anxious for my consult tomorrow?

Had to go to the cancer care center yesterday as the temporary marks were fading fast.  They redid them and I just got a call to go in tomorrow for xrays and permanent marks.  I am hoping to start Monday on the treatment.  Keeping my fingers crossed.  I'm going to stay on this site too, as we seem to all know each other and help when we can.

 Polyanna:  We are all here holding your hand when you have to have treatment, don't give up, you sound young and life is ahead of you.  I know you had child abuse and I am familiar with it, obviously not what you're going through, and I think I know how hard it must be for you but hang in there, you have many hands and hugs from us.

lynda - I definitely have that heavy feeling in my left breast.  I've had it for the past week and I just finished #18 today.  

I am also a little red, and a little tan.  I've been putting aquaphor on each day and it seems to be doing just fine.  I'm having one tiny little spot that feels itchy and the RO gave me a hydrocortisone cream to put on it.  I hope it doesn't turn into anything more.

Enjoying the snow day here in NJ - but enough is enough!!  Have a great day. 

Adey - just show up, yep, that's the ticket.

mjbmiller-I had the under the arm redness from friction.  I exercise alot and just kept it agrivated.  Towards then end I just had to give up running and just do my elliptical with no arm movement.  It is amazing the small everyday things that can cause irritation. yeah for one more week of reg tx.

grannydukes - Any cancer cells left in that breast are dead!!!  I don't think 1 day off will matter, I had a day off because of server problems and no one seemed concerned about that, just added a day to the end.  Today the computer thought I was done with regular rads and just had my boosts left!  Hah - I still have 10 more to get before boosts.  silly computer.

Polyana

Do they play music at all in your room? That helps me a lot. I ask them to turn it up! I also chit chat with them as much as I can while they are prepping me. It makes me feel like they have a personality attached to me rather than just another patient in the assembly line. Gives me some sense of trust in them. I'm a huge Kid Rock fan, so I've been telling them all about his shows. They remember and ask me questions. One guy hadn't been there for a week and he remembered to ask me all about his 40th birthday bash. 

I'm almost done with my 3rd week and finally not feeling as anxiety ridden each time. There's something about being told to stay still and hearing that zap that makes me nervous and I get that feeling like I want to jump up and run away. I bet that's how you feel when the door closes. I have never thought about the door, it's around the corner so I don't ever hear or see it shut. I agree with Gingerbrew's advice. Ask as many questions as possible, have them show you everything and ask how you can communicate if you are starting to panic.

I don't know how we all do this. Going every day is very wearing. Some mornings I just don't want to go. But... as we all know we have to do it.

msjag: I go in the morning, but have not returned to work yet. I thought it would be best to get it out of the way first thing and when I am back at work in a week it will fit my schedule. So far the fatigue has just hit me this week. It's not right after though, more like the afternoon. I found myself asleep on the couch the last 2 days when I didn't even plan on falling asleep!  I hope I can stay awake at work when I go back, maybe take a nap right when I get home.

granny - i am having an equally fun experience.  Today was my last full breast, tomorrow I start my 9 boosts.  They made such a happy fuss today with music and laughter. 

Polyana - I asked about the big door, which is not visible from inside the room - I have never heard it close, no fearful slam of the big protective door.  They actually don't always close the inner door, it depends on the amount of radiation used. I had difficulty with closed MRI's in the past but this situation feels nothing like that, not closed in at all.  I rather like it and find it peaceful - but I am looking up at a beautiful planetarium on the ceiling with amazing lighting, clouds, etc.....

I don't see anything at all from the machine other than that it is there   It wouldn't matter what I see, the techs make it a very good experience.

Hello friends. Today I went to get marked. They've made a mask for my head, which fits over my face and then they lock it down onto the table so that I can't move my head from the position they need it. (Anyone else doing it this way?)



I was told that the RadOnc has changed his plan for me. Now I'm to have "IMRT" instead of "3-D". Does anyone know what this means?



The marks they made on my neck are not on the lumps in my neck, but lower and more to the front of my neck. That seems weird to me!



Anyway, we'll see what Monday brings. My appointments have been set for 4:30.



Keep smiling, warriors!

Went for my x-rays and tats today, had 7 tats at least.  Didn't hurt much at all but, then, I am used to getting needle sticks because of ET.  The rad techs commented on my red breast and I explained that the surgeon said it was not an infection (so what is it?).  I start on Monday, 3:40 p.m. every day, just what I wanted.  I am going to have dinner at lunch time and then tea/lunch/supper, early evening in case I am too tired for anything else, if I am, maybe down the road a bit, I can just fall into bed and sleeeeeep.  I think my DH can get his own sandwich (maybe).  Thankfully, we have both retired (I was laid off but now I think it was for a purpose) so I will try and make this a positive experience and hope the 33 treatments go by fast.  I opted not to have chemo (the surgeon was a little ticked off that I didn't do it) but I feel comfortable with my choice and will just go with the rads and 5 year arimidex.  Hope you guys have a good weekend break off rads.