March 2011 Rads

Wow i was pages behind LOL just got busy! i am 3 down 30 more to go as of this AM! 

msjag-  my RO office was running late yesterday for about 45 mins too- i wonder why that happens and i also hope it isnt an often thing as my schedule is very tight not a lot of room for change!

Antigua- sorry to hear you had a rough go at things, glad its over whith though!

crlacey- its nice they offered to talk with your daughter, she is at an age where she gets whats going on and would benifit from that!

lovemylife12- that does sound a little excessive! I understand it costs money to run things and pay for the emplyees but we do NOT need to profit off the sick! Hope you are able to get things worked out, my only complaint is GAS i have to drive an hr each way to my appointment and its costly to fill up!

marjie- what type of tat will you be getting?

Elosie- that made me laugh! what did your boss think radiation entailed? Ppl need to be conciderate of their employees medical needs....

julie- your RO sounds like an ASS! i would have made a comment like "i'll do radiation on my lunch break if y'all dont mind me eating while getting it done!"

Girl friday- (sore nipples), there are these things that nursing moms use for sore nipples, the look like hollow clear cups... if i am remembering right they were called daisy something... my friend used them, i never needed to... Maybe those would help if the surrounding area isnt sore too...

I play little games in my head like that too with the lights- the things we do to pass the time!

I guess i should concider myself lucky they only did 2 punches even though my cancer had "fingers" as well...

Nred2002- Way to go! If my RO office were closer i'd walk too!

srbreastcancersurvivor- i went through my oncologist to coordinate everything. we did chemo first then surgery now rads and he was awesome at pointing me in the right direction for everything....

gingerstx- i am not sure if this is normal- they gave me my 4 tats and then when i went back they marked me up and they rewrite on me every time LOL and yup totally looks like my son got ahold of a marker and ent to town on my chest LOL

Texasrose361:  I think they use the permanent markers because in the past some women didn't want a permanent reminder of their BC.  Tats wouldn't have bothered me because I was ready to do or have done to me whatever needed to be done to get rid of the cancer.  I've only finished my 3rd rads, but so far it's not been a problem to avoid the marks when I'm slathering on the ointment or soap. 

Ginger:  I am so impressed that you've signed up for Curves!   That's certainly an inspiration for me.   

 Well, the machine was fixed today, so I had my first treatment.   They marked my breast with a thick purple marker and now it looks like a roadmap.  Then they put tape (the kind of clear tape that is placed over IV needles) over the marker.  So now I have tats, purple marker and tape on my breast and it'll be that way for the entire 2 months.  I'm curious to see how those skin areas under the tape hold up without the cream.

Question for everyone:  Was it my imagination or did I feel a slight warm sensation during the procedure?  Maybe I just imagined it!

Hi Ladies - I'd like to join your group.  Today is my 9^th rad - will be having a total of 34.  I'm swollen and very tender, but no burning although it feels really hot to the touch.  They say you can't feel the radiation when you're getting it, but I know I can feel it getting warm and sometimes tingling as it's going in.  When I had my simulation I was told they would take xrays once a week.  Then, after my first treatment, they decided to take xrays every day last week and twice a week from now until the end.  When I asked why I was told it was because it was on my left side and heart and lungs were involved so they just wanted to be very careful.  Thought it was kind of strange since they knew from the start it was on the left side and still originally said just once a week.  Have any of you had all of these extra films taken?

woohoo!  just have to share the good news I just recieved!!  They took a bone biopsy of my sternum the other day and the results came back benign!!  now when they radiate the node that is near it, they won't need to include the bone and part of my heart!  So thankful!!!!

ElizabethAnne: Yes, I sometimes feel the warmth during treatments. I thought it must just be me. Glad it's not only all in my brain.

gingerstx: Way to go deciding to join Curves. My mom worked there for a while and loved it. She was able to get really fit too. I've used the machines for a couple of weeks at different times and if done correctly, gives a great but safe workout. I was able to drop the extra baby fat after child #2 that way.

thegood5: That is great news! Since mine is on the left side and was by the chest wall, they said that some of my heart might be affected, but that it should repair itself with no problems.

good5- Awesome!

marjie- My mantra is kill the cancer, heal my skin during "the beep".

Sometimes I feel a tingle...but no warmth.  Frankly I don't understand how there wouldn't be at least some sensation considering the juice they are giving us. 

 gingerstx: My RO said no Lanolin of any kind and no oil.  Something about it concentrates the radiation on the skin, and you risk s surface burn.  I can check more details tomorrow.  I haven't shaved either...my skin is so sensitive as it is, the last thing I want to do is risk a nic and then have a secondary infection to deal with. I'm pink and my nipple stands at attention constantly now.  It kind of makes me giggle.  It shows even through a wool sweater...I guess I'm only half excited!

I don't know if I'll have xrays more than once...but once a week they put these diodes on my body, where the center of the beam is supposed to hit, and then calculate the effectiveness and accuracy of the beam.

Girl Friday:  Thanks!  @]--'--'--'---

I had my first day in the actual machine yesterday for the simulation...its called Trilogy. The thing is huge!  I counted atleast 6 techs sitting at computer screens outside the room and had three ladies come in the room to do all the positioning checks.  I did have lots of films yesterday as they were lining me up and I think they will do those xrays weekly.

Anyone else being tx'd in one of these machines?   I don't know whether to be impressed or scared to death of the thing.  

Lee7 -I had my simulation and pictures yesterday, and my actual treatments started today.  I will be getting 28 regular TX, what is your protocol, and when will you start actual TX.  We will hold hands, Do not let the machine intemidate you.

I thank God for my healing as the machine, does its work.  We are very strong sisters of March, 2011.

Love

lee7: I have no idea what my machine is called. I just call it Sparky

I think it's called "Abbreviations for newbies - updated".  I just bumped it and it should be in active topics.

Hello friends,

Your posts have made me chuckle tonight.  

thegood5:  I'm so happy to hear the good news.  You must have breathed a huge sigh of relief.

I'll have to check the name of my machine tomorrow.  I do know that it's huge, it's light blue and it's six years old (I wonder if six years old is obsolete in the radiation world?)  I do like the name "Sparky," though

It's really amazing to me that there are so many different ways of doing everything.  Radiation cream, xrays, markers, supplements, etc.....It seems like there is a wide variety of information given to us, too, by our radiations specialists. Some give a lot of information and others not.

I'm SO cold in the room.  They gave me a sheet yesterday, but I could tell that it was unusual for them to do this.  Today when I arrived, they had a nice blanket for me.  I thought that was nice of them to remember this little touch.   I've read about some places having a blanket warmer--that would be nice!   Has anyone seen a blanket warmer?

Reminds me...when I had my lumpectomy, my hospital gown had holes in it that they attached to hoses.  They then proceeded to blow warm air into my hospital gown.  Hospitals have come a long way!