March 2011 Rads
Comments
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Elizabeth: I want one of those hot air blower thingies for everyday use! I wonder if they make a portable model I could slip on for long walks on snowy days.
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heeheehee, Sparky, heeheehee
There are warm blankets in Dallas!
Sleuth, so sorry you felt unwelcomed. I too believe no one meant any harm. I hope you consider giving us another chance. The ladies here are wonderful!
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Alice: Thanks for the cream reminder. I was told by many people as well as seeing it on here that you should not apply cream or lotion for the 4 hours before a treatment. Since mine is at 4:45, I just make sure my last application is before noon.
Slueth01: Sorry you felt unwelcome. Since most of us are dealing with both life and treatments I assume others are like me and only get a chance to scan the posts some days. It seems that you just need to jump in to the conversation instead of waiting for a formal welcome from most of the groups around here.
ElizabethAnne: Since it's still cold here in PA, the techs always ask if I want a warm sheet. I figure that it probably takes more time for them to go get it than it does to just have the zap and be on my way.
Yesterday was my first day that I felt the affects of having treatment. I normally have bad sinus problems when the weather starts changing. Well it seems that when you add in radiation (and young kids), it makes for one tired mom. Thankfully, my kids thought it was fun to have a movie day!
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I'm seeing the radiation onc next week for a consultation. The hospital is only a few blocks away so I can walk there. But that is the only positive thing about it! I'm very, very reluctant to do this, but am trying not to worry too much.
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I'm assuming I will fall into this group but can't be sure yet...
I had my radiation consult Wednesday and had my port removed yesterday. I finished chemo (AC & Taxotere) on the 1st. Holly Crap!....
I will have my simulation on the 16th and was told they like to wait 3-4 weeks from the last chemo. I don't have a date yet for the start of treatments. I will have 28 to 33 treatments concentrating on my right side only (primary tumor site) the chest wall, lymph nodes in the armpit and the neck. I had a small tumor in the left breast with no node involvement and not a result of mets; they said there is no need to radiate my left side. CT's will be done to determine the total number of treatments required. I currently have tissue expanders and I was told there should not be any issues. Since chemo was just completed I will have a weekly blood count done since radiation can affect WBC and platelets. They use permanent ink markers not tatoos. The only cream they will let me use is Lansinoh (for breast feeding mothers) --- the name is just a bit ironic
and I have to bring the cream with me on the simulation so they can show me how to apply it.What a trip this has been! Glad to find this string!
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I checked about the name of the machine...they thought Trilogy was an updated version of the one I'm put into...The call it "The Accelerator" Ha! I'm one of the first appointment in the morning 730am and the room is sometimes chilly, but I run warm anyway. Sometimes they just put a warm sheet on me and don't even ask (like today)...other times they ask. It was a full house today. There were 6 of us lined up, and usually there's only a couple of us. I'm thinking Mercury is Retrograde because they were so backed up...I'll have to check on that. All week long I've sat with a man who's being treated for prostate cancer (so glad I don't have to expose my junk to that machine!) And a man that is stage IV terminal. He's got lung, liver, and sacrum cancer. They are juicing the sacrum to shrink the tumor to minimize his pain, and allow him to walk. He used to climb digital towers for a living, now he's just hoping see the birth of his grandchild in October. It certainly put things into perspective for me. him as it's later in the day.
srBCsurvivor: It's not a breeze, but you'll make it through. Since you're walking to the appt, maybe you should look at the radiation as a few minutes in the sauna midway through your workout?
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6 down, 29 to go!! warm blankets are everywhere, in the waiting room and on the rad machine, thank goodness. its always cool in both places.
I haven't beent told about any blood tests for radiation, makes sense, since most of us just get off of chemo 4 weeks before. No real side effects as of yet, just my left side/arm feels tingly sometimes, warm...
Hope everyone has a great weekend,
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Hey Rivercat! I think we're on the same schedule..I just finished 10/33 today!
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Had my first rad yesterday. The machine was War of the Worlds HUGE, It swung from one side to the other. It's not my imagination, I could feel it - but after all that anxiety, it really was a non-event. Founds cami's at Sears in the Juniors Department (extra large) for $5 a piece! I can always cut the elastic out later if it rubs on my skin. Really appreciate all of you ladies, it makes this process much more humane....
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p.s. They gave me a tub of "Udderly Smooth" cream to rub in (seriously) didn't know whether to laugh or be insulted, chose to laugh.
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Thanks Girl Friday, I'll do that. I will actually jog over there and then if I am too tired to jog back I'll walk.
To those of you who are already in the middle of this: how tired do you get? Does it affect your normal routine, energy-wise?
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heavenschild: There was an earlier post about that lotion...many RO don't recommend it. It's so curious how many different opinions there are out there. My RO says Aquaphor for later in the treatment, but 100% aloe for the duration...3-5x day. I bought fruit of the earth...there are very few additional chemicals in it and no dyes....no parabens either (outlawed in the Eurpean Union) I bought Aveeno Baby for those reasons...didn't purchase Aquaphor yet. Many say Boiron Calendula lotion, gel, cream, is excellent. I haven't been able to find it in 4 drugstores in Maine, but I have a couple more to call. Walgreen's carries it but just not in the location I visited. I think the string of reason for anything that we use, is to heal the skin that threatens to burn as quickly as possible. Water is essential...don't for get that. And my doc says increase your proteins to help heal from the inside out.
srbreastcacnersurvivor: I've had 10 sessions. I noticed fatigue on the 3rd session. It was an odd feeling, kind of washed over me. I felt like I was thinking and moving through marshmellow fluff. I'm thinking most of that has to do with my pace since the begining of the dx. I haven't really been able to rest, and there is like a bermuda triangle of odd things in my life. All of them are distressful, but not worth complaining about. I think rads is just the culmination of that stress for me. It also doesn't hit me every day...just day 3, 5 and 7 and 10. I've tried to take a nap, but I just can't do it. I'm starting to meditate now instead. Using that for a boost! I'm surprised you jog. I was told not jolting of my breasts until my next appointment. I was running and riding before the surgery...now I've just been walking when I can, but not nearly what I would prefer. That makes me think...I have some pilates DVD's...I should drag them out and dust them off!
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19 down - 9 to go!
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Kal 1865: I have my simulation on 3/16, too!
Elizabeth Anne: Tube top/netting?! Geez. Is that to keep the non-radiated breast away or to hold the affected breast in place? Just curious b/c my girls are in that neighborhood, too.
I can't wait to see the name of my machine. I'll probably just call him Ray.
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Congrats to everyone who just started and who have made it through another week.
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2nd day of radiation today. 2/28,
I had to wait awhile because there were a few patients ahead of me. But It gave me the time to rectify my sick leave note from the RO. They wrote I could return to work on light duty, but there is no light duty at my job, I work 12hr shift at night. So I asked him to put me off for the right of my RT, and he so lovingly said OK.
MARJIE - YOU ARE CORRECT IT TOOK ME 10 MINS, from the time I went to the change room until RT was completed. The rib pressure were not as strong as yesterday. I have my first weekend off. I feel OK for now. I did remember to loob up after my RT.
THRMINE - I read you should not put any creams or ointment on the breast 4 hrs prior to TX. On this board some people said they were told 2hrs. The directions on my miaderm cream said up to 1Hr before RT. My suggestion is to ask your RO, he will guide you. You should put your cream on after RT. Sorry to hear about your machine.
Girlfriday - I bought my Boiron canlendula products at Vitacost.com on line, it was much cheaper than wall green. $6.16 for the 2.5oz cream. $4.99 for shipping and I bought a few items.
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10 down and 24 to go. They took more xrays today. This twice a week thing is freaking me out. Anyone else getting films more than once a week on a regular basis? I really hit a wall yesterday afternoon with fatigue. About 3 I just had to get out of work and get home - almost felt panicked I was so exhausted. Strange because I wasn't sleepy - just felt like I couldn't put one foot in front of the other. Have felt better today so guess this stuff comes and go. So excited to have the weekend off from radiation. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
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8 down, 25 left. So far no skin problems, maybe a bit of itching. I have found that my sports bras work good - I put one on and nothing moves or rubs until I take it off. I am finding the fatigue is starting to hit. I am only a little over a month out of chemo and was just starting to NOT need an afternoon nap, but now I am back to needing a good rest part way thru the day.
I like that rads gets me out of the house daily. I refuse to have any complaints about it when chemo was so crappy! But lets just wait a few weeks and see what I think LOL.
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Rivercat, today was my 9th rad, it seems i am one day behind you. Mine is also on the left side (on the inside). I get xrays once a week. But i think i would be ok with more as they can never be to careful. I had to stay home from work today because i am sooo tired. I didn't think i would be this tired so soon into it. Anyone else very tired 9 days into it? Good Luck to everyone!!!
Pam
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Girl Friday: I only had a lumpectomy so figured I could jog as soon as the breast wasn't tender. So started after 10 days. When I had my first post-op appt. with the surgeon I mentioned I had been jogging and he didn't even blink an eye! So I've been going by how I feel. Some days I'm exhausted for no reason - I think it is mostly mental from the worry about the cancer - other days I'm full of energy and feel very positive. I don't remember these mood swings from my first cancer, but that was 28 years ago and I was an avid runner then - 50 miles a week - and running marathons. I have a tendency to be depressed and just hope I'll be able to handle the radiation. Today I went out and did 4 1/2 miles and felt really good (apart from a slight back ache - I have osteoporosis and fractured 3 vertebrae about 4 months ago from lifting a heavy sack of dog food) Now THAT was painful, but should be healed by now----
You guys are all so brave - I feel like a complete whiner - sorry---
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Pumela - thanks for your response. I'm okay with the extra films, just kind of worried that there's something they're not telling me. A little paranoid since the cancer diagnosis - seem to be waiting for the next shoe to drop. Got to try to get over that. Have a nice weekend.
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Re: x-rays, I had 6 or so this first week. Two one day, three the next, then two again. Wait so that is 5 I guess. They said they use the xrays to see my bones to be sure they are placing everything just right. The bones serve as a fixed spot. Still don't really understand it.
4 down and nothing so far to show for it. The marker to show the fields was an eyeopener. Geez. If/when I turn red it will be well above the neckline for most of my t-shirts. That should be interesting. They are getting a node under the clavical that really must be got, so I am told.
I tend to be a scanner for posts. As noted by a few of you, time does not allow me to give some of the one on one that I'd like to.
God Bless all and Happy Friday.
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Hey all. First time replying. Have been lurking about for a while. Today was #9. So far so good. Am slathering on Miaderm like wild. Costs way tooo much, but I am very, very fair. Very worried about skin issue, so putting it on like a crazy woman.
Lee: Yes, my machine is Trilogy. Supposedly the latest and greatest. Who knows.
River Cat: They are always doing extra films on me. I am complicated. Having to do both sides and having to go deep on left side. But my radiation nurse/friend assures me this is common practice- taking weekly or more films- to make sure all calculations/calibrations are exact.
Had BMX and having rads done on both sides and up under arms and up to the clavs, so maybe this is the reason. But I am already feeling major tightness across my chest and up under my arms. Anyone else?? I see the RO/PA on Tuesday so will mention this to them. It seems to be worst right after treatment and then gets better. No swelling, just real tight feeling.Thank goodness it's Friday. Sat. and Sunday now take on a whole new meaning.
Off to bed. exhausted tonight!!
GOD bless everyone of you!!! Enjoy the two days off.
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srbreastcancersurvivor: Welcome! I'm right with you--I wish I didn't have to do this thing, but I'm decided to put all my hesitation on hold and just get this over with. It feels kind of like Ground Hog Day going in to the same place day after day. It helps if the people in your center are friendly.
Teal3Pink1: I actually laughed outloud when I read your name for the machine--Ray! I found that my machine already has a name--Bertha. I'm not crazy about the name, but it'll have to do. My tube net top (it's still embarrassing to be wearing that contraption) is to hold the affected breast in place and to also keep stop the breast skin from rubbing on the skin below my breast. Apparently places were skin meets skin is much more susceptible to burns.
I've had had three treatments and had xrays for two of them.
Didn't expect this--when I got home from work tonight and got undressed, I saw that my aereola (sp?) is pretty puckered up near my incision and the incision is getting very hard. I don't recall reading that anywhere before. Anyone hear of this happening?
I haven't been tired yet, but I'm guessing it's because I didn't undergo chemo. I can only imagine that those having undergone chemo are already exhausted before they even get to radiation.
Happy 2-day vacation to everyone!
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Rivercat, Now that i think about it they could be taking more films on me and i wouldn't even know it. I keep my eyes closed all the time.:) I know what you mean about being paranoid. You are not alone. Some days i am just fine and can't wait to get back to my life and other times it's all i can think about. All the what if's, and my body won't do what my brain thinks it should. I get so frustrated sometimes. Reading these threads seems to help me. It's nice to know someone understands what we are going through. Have a good weekend everyone!!!
Pam
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Thrmine I'm right there'd with you. Completed number four.
I like the analogy to ground hogs day. Exactly what it feels like.
Welcome to all new peeps joining the board. This is a great group of positive ladies.
Libraylil -
Xray gals: I wouldn't worry about the xrays...I think it's really just diagnostic or preventative. Could you imagine what it would be like if they were zapping too deep or too shallow, and then you had to go back for another round? Ick! I think my team uses the diodes, but I'll ask about xrays Monday when I see my RO. Over all I encourage everyone of you to ASK. Don't be shy. It's your body and your cancer. Questions Authority! It's funny how they say everyone's cancer is different and yet for the most part we're all treated just the same! It's laughable and scary!
srBCsurvivor: You are not a whiner! Geez, BCx2, a broken back, and you're jogging to your appointments? Holy Crap! Give yourself a break. You are super woman just for getting through the day. Revel in your superhero status! I don't think what we're doing here is whining any way. I think we are commiserating, because it's hard to talk about this stuff with someone that hasn't gone through it. We're a support group not a jury. Besides, if you have nothing nice to say, please sit near me! I think I'll make you a cape so it will fly behind you even on the days you walk to your appointments!
My scar is lumpy and it itches underneath the skin (if that's possible) My RO told me to rub up and down over the scar with vit E oil to help break up the scar tissue that formed at the sutures. I haven't been doing this during rads because no oil, but I'll do it again after this is over. I've also heard that he breast could end up lumpy after rads, not just in the scar area. I'm in the process of researching why now. I'm assuming it has something to do with the breakdown of the internal tissue and then the healing process.
My skin is also starting to tighten, especially on my areola...but I think that's because it's starting to swell. It's pink all around it, and very sensitive. I didn't have chemo either, but the fatigue is definitely a part of this treatment for me. It's the oddest feeling. It just hits you all at once, and unfortunately I can't seem to sleep during the day to help it. Every part of my body is just heavy!
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thrmine- Yep, I've been trying to find something to wear to an event this evening and it's no easy task to find a neckline that covers the pink. Also found that trying on clothes really pisses off the sunburn!
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Girl Friday:
Thanks so much for the encouraging words. And thanks for the cape offer. A great idea! I'll be picturing it billowing behind me as I run up to the radiation dept. In the meantime, I'll be thinking of a name for the machine. Ray is cute and Bertha is good too; as in Big Bertha. Bubba might be appropriate -----hmm
You guys are all so positive - I'm so glad I discovered this site. Happy a nice, relaxing week-end everyone!
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Thanks to all who responded about xrays. It's really good to hear everyone elses experiences. It does help to make you not feel so alone.
ElizabethAnne - loved your Ground Hog Day analogy. That's exactly what it feels like.
Hope everyone enjoys their weekend off and gets geared up for the next go round.
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