January 2011 Rads

Teykla-CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOOHOO

Congrats to those that are finished. I have 2 more full breast then 5 boosts. My skin is holding up well....just getting a little tired.

Suepen:  I hope your back isn't too bad, that's no good considering everything else you are dealing with, sheeeezzz.

I had #13 today of 21.  Just starting to go red now but have been pretty good.  Got to see the rad onc and he was happy with everything.  I also saw my normal onc on Tuesday before I got herceptin treatment.  He actually used the words "Cancer Free".  I made him repeat that twice.  YAHOOO.  I know he can't guarantee anything and probably has no idea if it's lurking in my body, but him saying that tells me he's very confident that there's no lurkers and I can get on with my life.  It's really given me a massive lift, I have more energy, I'm happy.  Even the rad team commented on my bright mood this morning..

Onward and upward everyone, the information on this forum is unbelievable.  Congrats to those who are finished treatment.

congrads to all you Ladies!!! wow you did it, how does it feel?? 

 WHO'S still with me? im doing #16 tomorrow ,all u ladies that just finished when does the burning start? and the tiredness? im so nervous it gonna hit me all of a sudden. i have pain from my expandres but im use to it learning to live with it since i will have it fo a very long time .but worried about burning,peeling ect...

Congratulations Rain CIty Girl!!!!!!!!!

14 of 35 done

Finished whole breast rads today, last one!  On to 7 boosts.  Got so nervous about the boosts, kept asking the tech questions until he finally took me around the corner and showed me my treatment plan pictures with the tumor bed in orange and the photon beam areas.  Don't know that it helped me much, I am still nervous, but reassurred by his confidence.  I was impressed at how close to the chest wall my tumor was so I am glad to get the boosts, just worried that they will make the lymphedema worse.

Jo--sorry to hear about the lung issues. I continually wondered and asked about that through my treatment and the Techs keep reassuring me that my images etc look good for coverage and avoiding other areas. I guess it is just wait and see. Like you, I have probably one of the least-desirable RO's. I am supposed to see him every Friday and although I do go to his office either before or after rads--I have actually only seen him once during the last 5 weeks. It seems like he is either not there, late, or the nurse said that my skin looked good so no concerns.

I have my LAST full breast rad tomorrow and then 5 boosters. My skin is holding up really well--slightly pink but not too bad. Last night, it was a little itchy but that went away. I do feel pretty tired. Looking forward to getting this done. Even though the rads don't take up too much time, it does swallow a lot of your day (driving etc), it will be nice to get a full day and not worry about getting to the hosp!

rachel - If I saw my RO at all, it was so fast it made my head spin.  He would come in and look at my skin from across the room like I had some disease and then out the door before I could blink.  I did not have any use for his worthless nurse either.  She could never answer any of my questions - always had to ask the RO.  I think she was only good for reception duties.  Boy!  Is she overpaid.

Haven't even given the lung issues a second thought.  I am going to the specialist on Tues and not even worried about it at this point.  The damage is already done and there is nothing I can do about it.  I am only going because my surgeon set it up and now it is plain curiosity for me to see the extent of the damage.   

beacher- I don't think anyone responded to your question.  I have been wondering the same thing, but realize everyone is different.  I am on #22 (18 full breast and 4 boosts so far)  I have a big red/tan square around my breast but nothing worse so far.  The past few days I have itchiness which comes and goes.  I just put some calendula ointment on and then try to forget about it!   No peeling yet!  I have about 14 treatments to go.

beacher - i just finished yesterday and can share my experience.  I was pink, then red.  I became quite tan under my arm and under my breast.  The area under my arm got tight during the last week of regular treatments - by tight, I mean that a few times when I raised my arm, it felt like it could split open. This was not so bad for me to even need advil, just more lubrication.  Within a day or two, it began to lightly peel and the discomfort dissipated.  I was hit with some pretty good fatigue around then as well.  When I started boosts, the red and tan of the whole breast began to dissipate pretty quickly and I have no further discomfort in those areas.  The boost area is a bit redder but that is because the electron treatments during boosts are more shallow, so more like an actuall sunburn for me.  I have large breasts, DD's.  The radiation has thankfully not prevented me from wearing a bra.  Now that I am done, yay, yay, yay, I have just a hint of peeling beginning in the boost area, and it's not really peeling as much as it is flaking. Now, if the fatigue will begin to improve, I will be thrilled.  It can go pretty smoothly and I sure hope it does for you - try not to freak out in advance and take the good stories into your mind, all the while, keeping those boobs as lubed as you can manage.  The finish line is a wondrous place to be and not very far - you will be surprised...best wishes!

Go to Walmart and get Udderly SmOOth in a round container $3.46 about 3 or 4" in dia.  It is practically the same thing and my RO approved it Monday and said "his ladies" had good results.  No tried it yet except for a teswt spot on my leg as I am allergic to almost everything (so it seeems).  Have not started itching there yet!

Bugger.  Not on Amazon here or I can't find it.  Oh well.