January 2011 Rads

#21 yesterday, I have just started my 5th week, today I was suppose to get more markers for my boost treatments next week.  So it looks like it might be delayed a couple of days.  Temp is in the 20's and wind chill is in the negative.

Same with me--just starting week 4 and a little pink. The techs told me that they think my skin looks "Great" based on the amount of rads done. I am hoping that skin holds up. One person did tell me that the biggest change in skin was in week 4 and 5...fingers crossed.

Hi!  Yesterday was my first session.  Went well, but the mask restraint is really very trying.

Has anyone had (or currently having) the mammosite form of radiation?  (I had that the first time, in 2008.)

Also, anyone else having neck radiation, using the mask thingy? 

Just curious.

Good luck, all.

mjbmiller - Regarding the friction under your arm, my RO gave me a large sheet of a silicone gel material that I cut to shape and ever so gently adheres to the skin under my arm to stop friction.  It is wonderful stuff....maybe ask if they can offer that?

did my first boost today.yay. 4 more to go.i am burnt but not blistered and not in too much pain.never took anything for the pain and i dont do too well in the pain dept.its really not bad.saw the dr.today and he was very please. he said IF YOU DIDNT BURN I WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT THE TX ARE NOT DOING ITS JOB.all he said was cream cream and cream some more.i do that 4-5-6 times a day.i guess its working THANK YOU GOD.

WISHING EVERYONE NED FOR 2011..God bless all of us.huggggggggs K

granny - What a dumb thing for your RO to say. He could have been a little more sympathetic.  But do use the creams as much as possible.  You will need to keep using the creams for 2 - 3 weeks after you are finished treatment.

Hi back.  I grew up in various rain cities.  Des Moines, WA, Hoodriver, OR, Vancouver, WA and Seattle.  Worked in Bellevue for awhile.  Pleased to meet ya and thanks.  (c:

Adey - hope the storm doesn't mess you up too much!

GeorgiaDeb - no, not officially crispy   It gets dry and pulls when you move your arm, so it feels like it will rip open, but it won't.  It isn't that bad really.  I am not itchy or sore in the breast, only under the arm has discomfort.  I may have some minor peeling he said but he doesn't expect anything too bad.

Well I am going to miss tomorrows treatment too.  The schools are closed so the RO office is too.  I will have to go to work tomorrow, not looking forward to it.

Grannydukes - sorry about your sister in law, you and your family will be in my prayers.

Hi ladies - I did #15 of 16 today and saw my rad onc.  He thinks things are looking good for the stage of rads I'm at.  My biggest concern is that I'm getting severe pain in the rib just under the breast.  It is exactly the same as the nerve pain I had there several years ago when I had a collapsed lung and they inserted a fairly large chest tube between those very ribs.  I think the radiation has made the tissue/nerves flare up and its painful.  He told me to take Tylenol and that it should settle as the inflammation and irritation from rads settles down.

Localgirl & Beacher - What kind of reconstruction are you referring to?  Implants? I think I can understand why they want you to wait so long . . . the radiated area can take a long time to heal and be as normal as normal can be.  Please let me know what they say about implants and detection for recurrence.  I also am lopsided due to lumpectomy and re-excision, and have one nipple that got a a little lift and is looking quite perky, and the other one is down where it should be, given my age, LOL.  But they don't match, and one is bigger than the other so I am interested in what you are talking about.

Localgirl - Thanks for your great explanation on boosts.  My rad onc never gave me any - - didn't think I needed any.  But I am a little nervous about that, because I had to have a re-excision, and there was a lot of concern at the time about my biopsy track.  I don't quite understand why they wouldn't boost me????  Better safe than sorry, I say.  But again, when I asked about it, my rad onc took the position that my tumor was small, early stage, and that I should breeze through this and be just fine afterwards - - no boosts necessary.  I sincerely hope so . . .

Teklya - We are also having the severely cold weather.  We are practically neighbours!    Are you sending the cold to us or are we sending it to you?

Victoria67 - I also have red spots like freckles.  That's a good description . . . I was going to say they looked like measles.

Attached is a pic of "Atlantis", the machine I've been spending time with these last few weeks.  Also the Atlantis rad team . . . great bunch of girls.

hi everyone, another question!!  when I met with the rad onc for a consultation last week she talked of some radiation going to the ribs and maybe causing a cracked rib, has anyone every had that happen or heard of that? she also said the lung does get some rad and may show up as a spot on lung after radiation.  I was told 28 treatments, but the word boost never came up, I will ask on my marking appt.  Had to cancel that today, its another storm, yesterday too, in MA..another 12-18 inches on top of the feet of snow we have already gotten, storm number 6 already!!  I will be so ready for spring, my rads should be done by then too!!! 

YEAH MARJIE, YOUR LAST CHEMO TODAY!!!! Hope all goes well.