January 2011 Rads

Four weeks down two more to go, 1 regular week and 1 boost.  Tech noticed I was getting real red and crusty on the inside.  Got a prescription for some ointment, forgot the name.  Looking forward to getting it filled and get some relief.  And I was doing so well.

Good wishes to those who are just starting.  Seems like yesterday I was having my tats done.

Well as far as I know, the purest aloe you can find is at 98% unless it is a plant.  Do you have Trader Joe's?  They have it and it is good stuff.

Sherryc - thank you   It is nice to be at the tail end of this now.

Mjbmiller - was the prescription for xclair?  It is good stuff.

went for my consult with rad onc.  She was very nice, 28 treatments, two zaps, I believe she said, no underarm, and I go next wed, day before my last chemo to get marked, and meet rad nurse to go over everything.  The only aloe I found so far says ALoe vera 100% gel. but it does have other things in it.  thing its ok to use the plant? a friend offered my hers for my radiation treatment.  I was told 85% to 90% cure rate, so I should be happy, but why does my mind go to the other 10 to 15%.  I have been so positive all through chemo, and now the emotions and doubts are hitting. So glad to be here to get ready for rads.  I start rads March 1 or 2.  I believe the lotion she mentioned was Aquifar, something like that. I'll get more details next week. Sorry I know I'm all over the place, just really hitting home after today.

I finished number 8 today and met with the hospital oncology social worker. I was really impressed that they have so many programs and links to other programs. For example I can go make a beaded bracelet, or do yoga, or attend a group, or even see demonstrations on flower arranging. It all sounds like a lot of fun to me. Now just to get my butt out the door and go do it!   

Raincity, you are on your boosts! Congratulations. 

Ginger

Question - My daughter just noticed that I have two round shaped red spots on my back shoulder blades (both).  They are about 1 inch across.  Anyone else have that?  Do you think its from the radiation thing I lay on?  I don't get any rads to the back, just from one side and then the other to the right breast (tangential)  And I don't get any on the left side.  Very strange!

marjie - That could be!  today was my longer session because of the x-rays so maybe that skin is just getting tired.  It is right over the bones.  Thanks, makes me feel better!

TNBC-er, my clinic offered tours of the radiation center for newbies, so I went on one after my planning and before my rads begin.  The tech took us through a room where there were a couple of those masks on a shelf.  He said they were used for head and neck radiation and were custom-made for each person, and that they offered them to the patients to take home at the end of the treatment.  They had a few photos up of art projects people had done with them, someone who put hers in the garden and had trained some vines to grow around it....

The masks would be difficult for me to use.

My deletion was an accidental double post. 

Ginger

Completed #13 of 16 yesterday.  Only 3 more to go!  Woopee!  I'm hangin' in there with you ladies, although I know mine is much shorter than most of yours and I hope that you all do well with your later treatments.  So far so good for me.  Fridays are always my worst day . . . I think it takes that long to build up during the week.  But then the weekend comes and all is good again by Monday.  A little redness, some weird twinges now and then, but other than that, pretty darn good.  Using Miaderm every day and a little hydrocortisone when the nipple/aerola gets itchy.  Getting a little tired at different points during the day, but not extreme by any means.

Thank you so much to all you ladies on here who helped me out.  Honestly, if I had had to rely on my medical people, I would have had ZERO information about this journey.  They just don't offer up much, and when you're new to the diganosis and the treatments, you just don't know what to ask.  This forum has made me much more proactive in my own treatment because of all the fantastic info I've learned on here.  It helped me ask good questions, and a lot of them were a little shocked that I was asking some of them and a few even asked, "How did you know about that?" or "Why are you asking that?"

Thanks again, and love you all!!!!

I agree, I would not have an ounce of information if it wasn't for being on this site.  I asked about cream on Friday (I start rads Monday) and I had a look of surprise and was told, wait until you see the dr. and he will give you some samples.  I thought you had to start cream before rads?  Did I also hear from you guys that you should drink a lot of water?  I want to get started but I'm also apprehensive.

i didnt get any of those sheets but its highly annoying when my bra touches over it and i have to wear a bra to carry my prosthesis as im still going to work and cant go bra-less!

thanks for the aloe info!!

i know just getting my butt out to do anything seems impossible!!!!!! just rads,lather,laydown,tv,eat,over and over, I live in southern California and its beautiful outside and i just do not care ive only had 7 rads so far but my breast stings alot,so no tops at all is preferred. my family is used to walking in finding me topless watching tv,i hope when rads r done 5 weeks from now i can get off the couch! 

beacher - Be sure to include lots of protein in your diet - it helps our cells repair themselves after rads.

suepen - I am also using the essential lotion that I think you recommended, very nice product, and emu oil.