March 2011 Rads

14 of 36 left! 

My rash seems to be under control after applications of sap from the aloe plant (I cut off a piece, slit the long way so I can have 2 halves, then I rub one half on the top rash and the other half on the bottom rash... ah, cool relief!) followed by a layer of hydrocortisone cream.  

I had to have my xrays yesterday and thought I was ready for them.  I'd taken a 500 mg tylenol and had stretched my arms in hopes that would help.  I was laid out on the table and maneuvered into position when suddenly the lights flickered, then went brightly on and all the machine humming stopped!  They'd had a power surge so everything had automatically shut down.   While  I laid there for 20 minutes one of the techs came out, told me I could put my arms down, covered me with 2 warm blankets and talked to me, telling me what was going on and what they were doing while they worked through the procedure to turn the machines back on again.   Once everything was on again they had to reposition me and the machine so I could lay there another 20 minutes with numbing hands, getting xrayed and zapped.    When I returned to the dressing room, there were 6 ladies, some of whom I'd never seen before,  awaiting my return.   I got lots of sympathy hugs!  :>)

Have a good one, ladies!

Pam - I so understand.

Today I am considering stopping rads. I have had to take two breaks now and on the current break I developed more blisters which have since popped. The pain is horrible and the delays are depressing. My thoughts are that if all the rads decreases my chance of reoccurence by 9%,but doesn't have any effect on survival rates, why am I going through this? DH is disappointed I'm considering this, but says it's my body. I have to work through all of this because I used all of my FMLA with my surgery. I have to have insurance. I am soooo tired.

Love to hear anyone's thoughts on this.

gingerstx:  How scary with the power surge!  I will be starting Femara the day after I finish rads.

Grandmabubba: I'm so sorry you're having such a difficult time!  What's your count?  What does the RO say? I haven't heard of the 9% stat you're talking about, but man that sure doesn't seem worth it.  I'd consult your surrounding professionals and go from there.  In the meantime...Double check your protein and water intake...make sure you're getting enough of those so you can heal from the inside out!

gingerstx: That totally sucks!  Mercury is Retrograde!  The lead doors started to close on their own on me this morning...and the techs were bracing for a fire alarm to go off...it delayed the process a bit, but nothing compared to your "extended vacation" in the rads room!

Teal3Pink1:  I'll ask my techs about the photon/electron change They are awesome and explaining and educating me on the process. This morning I asked them about the RO that told her patient (can't remember who) that the folliculitis was just HER allergic reaction to the rads...but that's not true...the folliculitis is a direct result of the radiation.  It is expected as the cells break down...something about rads also produces hydrogen peroxide as things break down too...hence the inflammation...I'm researching more about it now.  I also asked them about the rads "bounce" that everyone has been talking about. They said the waves are concentrated enough that they do not "bounce"  anywhere. You can't have a shadow effect on any skin where the rads is not directly hitting.  I think it's interesting the "differences" of techs/RO comments.

I think there should be more information available to us...like you should be able to pick up the basic info packet, and then the not so basic, and then the really specific packet...It seems like there is an effort to not inform us of what's really happening and we have to pursue all answers!

28/33 Boost 1 tomorrow!  I'm really red, really sore, and my nipple that once looked like italian leather, is now spotted bright magenta where the skin has rubbed off...it looks like dinosaur flesh!

Finally had my simulation today, start rads on the 18th with my "dress rehearsal" being next Friday.  I guess I should be moving on over to the April rads thread, but I just want to thank all of you ladies for all of the wonderful info you have given.  I went in there today feeling like I knew exactly what the next thing to come was going to be.  One more question...how long before you start should you start preping your skin, if it all?  Should I be applying baby aveeno now or is it too soon?

GrandmaBubba, I'm so sorry you are having a bad time i sure understand. I think you should take some days off to heal and maybe they can start back up again. Talk to your RO about it, i'm sure there is some way to work it out. I agree you have come so far. They showed me the mold for my boosts today, but since i missed yesterday they won't start until tues now. Oh well, the techs said it was good for my mental state to take the day off. I really agreed, i feel better today. My RO said they don't have to do simulations for my boosts, they did them already. Wow i don't even know when. LOL, i don't have a clue.

Teal, the techs told me i would be having photons for my boosts, i don't know what that is either, but now i will ask.

Marjie, YOU GO GIRL!!!  so was it easier?, quicker?

Hope everyone is having a good day!!!

                                                                      Pam

P.S. GrandmaBubba, i have FMLA that is intermittent, so if i need a day off during treatment it doesn't go against me. I don't know if it's different from state to state. I also have to make sure i work 80 hours a month for my ins. but they will let me use vacation hours if i don't work enough. Best Wishes!

GrandmaBubba:  Shame on that Burnie! I am so sorry that you are having a rough time and wish I had sage words to share with you. All I can offer are tender thoughts and cyber-hugs.

GirlFriday and Pumela:  Thanks for checking with your techs. I read somewhere that electrons don't penetrate as deep as photons. This is all fascinating stuff. It would be interesting to know more about how that all works. And it seems to me that it would make more sense to go after any micro cells hanging out near the tumor bed first and then take out any strays.... I'm sure there's a reason the boosts are at the end.

Hello ladies, I had my 15th treatment today. Tomorrow will be having

my "boosts" simulation. Although the boosts will not start for another

couple of weeks. So far my biggest issues of burned areas are my chest

and under my breast. . . Both are itchy and ouchy. I can only imagine

what it will feel like by the end of next week.

My other SE from the radiation have been extreme fatigue and a little

bit of nausea. Anyone else had a sick tummy? Been more tired than

usual? Been taking at least one nap a day since I just started Leave

from work. I have been using lots of aloe Vera as well, oh yea and I

ditched my bra for a while. Lol,

one more quick question. How many of you lovely ladies have decided

to take and or not to take the tamoxifen/arimidex?

Thanks, hugs and prayers to all.

julie47:  I have hardly any appetite, but then when I get hungry I almost lose control. I really only want to eat sweets and I have forced myself not too.  Somethings won't settle for me now either, I get indigestion, and I wasn't prone to that before.  Sometimes I get nauseous but I feel that's more of the semi dizziness I get from fatigue.

grandmabubba- thoughts and prayers to you. I almost didn't do my last chemo tx because it was soooo awful. My husband and boys wanted me to finish. I did end up doing the last tx but it was because I thought if I ever had a recurrence I would blame myself for not doing everything I could the first time. That was just my thought at the time, I completely understand why anyone might stop treatment. It can be really brutal. It is a personal decision and you have to do what is best for you. 

(((hugs))) 

My rash is doing better!  I'm amazed and have to give credit to the applications of sap from the Aloe plant I'd been given.  I've been applying it several times a day for the past two days, just slitting an aloe piece in two and rubbing each half right onto the rash, and instead of looking angrier this morning, my rash seems to be fading! 

I'm getting my simulation for boosts today, after my regular zaps, and I'm not looking forward to it because of that dreadful arm position I have to hold!   My tech assured me it isn't as bad as the original simulation, but I'm still anxious.   Hope they have a silver bullet for me to bite down on!

29/33:  1/5 boosts completed!  Yahoo. Boosts are shorter!  and the are electrons not protons...apparently protons pass through the skin, which is why the machine is never directly pointed at you, because they would pass completely through your body.  Electrons only go so far, so a calculation is made to hit the tumor bed but not go through to the lungs.

shooshoo:  I've heard that many tolerate Tamoxifen well after a brief (1-3month) adjustment period.  There's another thread...bottle o tamoxifen where they discuss the SE and issues.  I can't remember if I've seen you on it, but I can't remember much of anything lately.  Don't work yourself into panic over it.  It's a safeguard, and considering what you've already gone through, it should be a breeze.  (this is what I keep telling myself!)

sandymess:  It goes fast!  You'll be there soon enough.   Sun in Maine today!  Don't you think we should have a party?

3 to GO!!!

GrandmaBubba- Hopefully you will feel better soon.  I think you should definately talk to your RO.  HUGS to you...

Thinking of you all.  YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!