March 2011 Rads

On 3/2/2011 I had to cancel my CT planning appointment because I ate.  You see, I was due to get an IV contrast was supposed to be NPO 6 hrs prior to treatment. 

 I rescheduled my appointment for 3/3/2011, I asked for a later time, but they insisted I must come in at 10:00am.  It was a horrible day, I had to wait for 3 hours before I was seen and that was after I got upset reminding them I am diabetic and was becoming hypoglycemic.

My veins are not very visible, which I explained to the CT team, and asked them to get someone good with IV insertion.  The first stick from the nurse I screamed, even though I am a nurse myself, the second stick I  started crying ..  They decided to cancel the contrast.

I am claustrophobic, but did believe, because I had CT Scan before that my head would be beyond the donut. I tried 3 times but could not tolerate the feeling of being compressed.   When they started the CT Scan I had to ask them to remove me because they insisted my head must be directly under the donut, and I felt I was going to die.

They finally called my RO and he gave me Benadryl IM and Ativan p.o.  In about 45 Min's I was able to complete the CT Scan. The RT gave me 2 tattoos. and said he will call me next wee.

I then asked him to please let me see the Radiation Machine because if the procedure was anything like the CT Scan, I would have to have a mastectomy.

He took me to see the radiation machine, and I will be able to tolerate it, because it will not en-cave my head.

This was not a very good first experience about radiation.

I too have considered buying some different clothing and cheap bras. But everything I bought before surgery was not what I actually could tolerate wearing, so I think I'll take the wait and see approach too.

Yesterday was treatment #2 and I got my tattoos since I seemed to line up perfectly. They also mentioned that I could bring my daughter to see them and talk if she felt like she ever wanted to. (She's 7 and has been very interested in what's happening to me.)

Hello everyone,

I am a newbie here. Will be starting radiation treatments on

march 14, which happens to be my anniversary. The simulation

for me was a terrible experience. If I had some clothes on I would

have run out of there. Lol. I am hoping the actual treatments

will not be so bad. I was thinking of taking off a few weeks to deal

with fatigue and other possible side effects. Did anyone else find it

necessary to take off from work during radiation tratments? What sort

of side effects and when did they start?

GirlFriday:  Went to the thrift store yesterday to buy some "Omar the Tentmaker" shirts. Found one that was silky and I was thinking that I could just wear a cami under it.  Also thought about getting some big cami's and wearing a jacket over them.  Really wish I could just stay home from work for six weeks! 

julie47 -- It's really different for everyone.  If you feel that you'd like to take the time off and you can do that without danger to your job or finances, go for it.  Or can you work from home, or a reduced schedule -- half days, or three days a week?  My doctor had said before I started treatment that I could keep working if I wanted to, but almost as soon as I started treatment he'd say "I'm so glad you're taking the time off. I hate to see my patients getting so tired out." 

I think the things to consider:

-- Commuting.  Do you have to drive a long way?  That could be difficult if fatigue becomes a problem -- sleepy drivers are dangerous.  Is transit or carpooling an option?

-- Clothing.  Not everyone has serious skin reactions, but most people have some, and once they start it's best to not wear a bra, or at least not wear a serious underwire kind of bra all day every day.  Is that a problem in your workplace?

-- Schedule.  If you have the kind of job where your shift begins precisely at 8:00 AM and that means you have to walk in the door by 7:53, that can be hard when fatigue sets in.  If it's more of a "Hey, I'm running late but I'll be there in time for the 10:30 meeting" place, maybe not.  You need to build in time to apply cream a couple of times a day, too.  

-- Colleagues.  I've only been working very part-time during my treatment, and my co-workers have all been very sympathetic, but it's really hard to get them to understand that my radiation appointment happens at an exact time and that means I have to leave half an hour beforehand. Whenever I was in the office on a day when I had rads, it seemed like my phone would ring just as I was heading out the door, I had someone following me to the elevator talking about something or other, then I'd get down to the garage and find someone had parked in front of me and I had to go get the attendant to move their car.... I always made it to rads on time, but it was stressy.  My supervisor scheduled a meeting she wanted me to attend at the same time as my treatment one day.  I pointed that out, and she said "Yes, I know, but I thought you could join us by phone."  Can you imagine being in the room with the techs saying "Okay, scoot your bottom up a bit...now lie still...I need a cm roll supe on my side..." while you were on speakerphone?

Also, there is the annoyance factor of everyone in the office coming up to your desk and saying in a hushed voice "And how are you doing? I mean...how is IT going?  Well, you LOOK good! Hang in there!". 

For me, side effects (fatigue and skin) became bothersome in the third week of rads.  I had my last treatment on Monday; my skin is much better already but I was told to expect it to get worse over the next two weeks.  Fatigue I was told would be worst in the four weeks after rads ended, and then get better -- it's hard to say because I got a terrible cold the day of my last treatment so I've been in bed with that anyway.

Good luck! 

To all with rads fashion issues:  I think layers is the key. Of course I also have five feet of snow in my front yard.  I'm only a 36C, but I have trouble going sans brazier, I just don't like it in public...of course on the way home, half the time I'm removing said brazier in the car.   The athletic tanks by Danskin have worked the best for me...they are stretchy with cotton mix and don't have a shelf, so I don't have to worry about the elastic.  My skin's always been sensitive, so I'm just hyper cautious.  My nipple is sore after one week...so cotton is good The fruit of the loom front hook have been the best...Does anyone else feel that it's odd that there aren't bra's and clothing out there for these issues...I mean marketed as such.  I've seen enough of pink everything to make me puke, why aren't there great bras for us?

I had a huge issue finding the right lotions....I was told no lanolin, no oil. They gave me a coupon for Aquaphor, which has lanolin alcohol...I mentioned it to the techs, and they had no idea what to recommend...I see my RO every Monday so I'll bring it up then.  A lot of lotions in the US have parabens, which have been outlawed in Europe...something about synthetic estrogen properties or something like that....I'm going to check Neutrogena and see if that wouldn't be the best lotion...I use it on my hands most winters, and love it...I think my nipple would respond favoritely!  I bought Fruit of the Earth Aloe...that I use after rads and it doesn't have parabens either.  I also, bought an aloe supplement...it's supposed to be ingested, and it's kind of stinky, but when I'm at home I've been putting that on every hour or so...my breast is like a baby's bottom!  HA!

Would love to by Miaderm, but $28 for 4 oz is not  in this unemployed gal's budget!

My radiation team gave me Miaderm, and told me to start using it three times a day, immediately.  I have had 8 treatments so far, and no issues, though I know it is early days yet.  The clinic is 2 miles from our house and I am walking there and back, weather permitting.  I hope exercise fends off the fatigue later.  

I agree.  I bought a boatload of stuff for chemo - spent a bunch of money and didn't use most of it.  I packed this huge chemo bag for the first infusion and after that all I took was a couple of magazines or a book plus a family member - that was all I needed!  I think I will wait to see how I react too to the radiation.

hello ladies  i    also am starting rads on the 23 of march, i have 33 sessions . i had my operation in July 2010 and second operation for safer margin in august, then chemo 16 doses in September,and now rads, still have not gone back to work have no intentions to till I'm over all treatments , i had hard time on chemo in  out hospital pneumonia ,

I was waiting to hear from my surgeon's office as they were scheduling my first radiation visit and also my first oncologist visit. I finally got one of the appts and called the place. They are not "in network" with my insurance. Then I called the oncologist- same thing.  So now I have to find two others who will take United Healthcare.

Do you guys think it is better to talk to an oncologist first (rather than the radiation oncologist?) I want to weigh all the pros and cons before undergoing radiation and/or taking any medications. I know nothing about the radiation procedures; i.e. what are boosts? Why do you need CT scans? What other scans do they do before you start?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Angelice - welcome to the board, I also explained to my RO that I will not return to work until my RT is completed, since I work 12hr shifts at night, he fully agreed, because he explained that fatigue is part of the side effect of RT.

 Welcome again to our club.

Libraylil,...my friend gave me an aloe plant, onc nurse said it was alright to use, I have only had one treatment so far, did use some yesterday. I am also using aquafor.  Sorry I can't be of more help.