May 2011 Radiation

Brenilea:

Had my tattoos last week.  It was a pinch and a little sting.  Take a deep breath and it will be over.  I start my Rads on Thursday, so I guess I should officially join this discussion. 

Hello ladies.  I guess I can join your thread.  This is my first post; I've been lurking since Feb and I have learned so much from all of you.  I've had two lumpectomies; 1 in Feb and 1 in Mar to get clear margins. I had my simulation on the 14th of Apr and started rads on the 19th of April and should be done around the 9th of June after 28 treatments plus 8 boosts.  I've completed #6/36 treatments; so far so good.  I look forward to getting to know all of you and taking this journey together.

I have an appointment with my radiology oncologist on Monday. Hopefully I will start rads the next day. I had BMX 13 days ago, and finished chemo on 3/15. I am hoping that radiation will be the easiest of the three paths of this journey. I have very fair skin, so that will probably be my biggest concern. I have read that rads cause fatigue, but it can't be as bad as chemo. I guess I will find out soon enough. These boards have been very helpful in gaining insight as to what to expect as well as emotional support in dealing with SE's from ladies who know what we are going through. Looking forward to your advice and support!

sig2130:  We are starting the same day.  April 28th, tomorrow.  I am done on June 14.    Funny story, when I did my simulation, I was leaving the radiation center and a prisoner walks in, in chains with 2 guards.  The nurses knew him, since he probably comes in every day.  Guess the prisons don't have radiation centers.

I'm starting today too.  What I thought was pretty wild is the tech I'm dealing with is my age and just finished her own treatment 3 weeks ago.  She just started on Tamox, so I assume we will have a lot to talk about over the next couple months.  I'll be thinking about all of you today!

Julie

guess I now belong on this forum.  Had neoadj chemo then unimx with diep and now on to rads.

Maggiemc2, I have followed you over here. Ha ha.  My doc also said tom's deodorant and baby poder with cornstarch.  Also gave me samples of aquaphor.

I also was not thrilled about the tatoos, but will cross that bridge when i get there, maybe a little ativan for that day.

 Brenilea:  This is my first post on this thread.  I am also starting my rads this month.  I have had my simul. and my tatoos.  Don't worry...the tats are not that bad.  Just a quick pinch from the needle.  I have been fighting this battle since last Aug. when I was diagnosed with a cancereous Sentinal lymph node.  It was estrogen fed (from my breast (no cancer has actually been found in my breast ) so it is considered breast cancer. I also had level one and two lymph  nodes removed ( 18) .  Only one of these nodes was cancerous.  I have had 16 chemo treatments.   I am continuing Herceptin treatments every 3 wks. until next Jan. 

 I am curious to see how the rads do effect us.  I am a teacher and am going for my rads every day after school (28 x's).  I will probably go home and nap after that.  Does anyone know if it is o.k. to drive after rads?  Or doesn't it make you that tired.  We will soon find out.

Take care ((Hugs))

Laura

I'd like to join as well!

Hello to my Jan 2011 chemo friends!!

I'm due to have simulation on 06-May, and then probably won't start rads until May 23rd.

My last chemo was *today*!! Hooray!

Wondering if anyone has dealt with a port?  My RO said they won't start rads till I get it removed (it's on the same side as my bc was). So I can't get in to do that till May 20th.

Also, my RO said baking soda/cornstarch combo for deodorant needs. And no bulking up on enzymatic supplements (like CoQ10, etc)

thank you ladies!!

brenilea.. the anticipation and waiting is the hardest part, thats why these boards are so helpful so we can vent and gather info of whats to come.  There is so much time in between each process.  When I was originally diagnosed  in Sept.2010 my surgeon said to expect a year of treatment and he was pretty dead on. Did chemo then surgery and now rads through may-june, healing, then nipple added and we will be right back to Sept.  I guess in retrospect I can say it went pretty fast.

carberry:  My port is on the opposite side, too, and I need it for the herceptin as well.  My RO nurse said there was no problem with still having it.

Hi Ladies,

I have been lurking for a few days so, may I  join the May 2011 Rads group? I thought about what Romansmom said happened when she was leaving her treatment. Well, as I was leaving, I think my nipple was smoking and my  body told me that it could either walk me to the car or it could breathe, but it couldn't do both. I was so wasted, just too tired to place one foot in front of the other. By the time I got home I was nauseated and tired, after resting the remainder of the day I was doing better. The next day  I ate a little something before going and I wasn't nauseated just extremely tired. Today, Friday, the machine is down AGAIN, so, I get to rest over a long weekend. I did not expect to get SE's after the first treatment. I am praying that it will get better maybe, I won't burn, it seems that I always do things backwards.

Bambi, Good Luck Monday with your simulation. Maybe you could take an Advil or something. My RO told me the 1st appointment after my sim would take awhile also and for me to either take a pain pill or Advil. I am opting for the Advil...I think I just was turned in such a way and never got comfortable then the sholder pain got intense.

I am 4.5 weeks PFC and just starting this week with A LOT of fatigue. Anyone else? I layed around during chemo but didn't sleep well. Now, I could sleep most of the day. I'm unsure if all the drama has finally caught up with me or if my counts are down. They were checked 2 weeks ago and were normal so who knows??? I just want some energy back.

Laura 53 - Don't know how predictive this is, but after 3 treatments I can say I feel really fine and drive myself back to work with no problems. 

Pixelsupply - Thanks for the product information...my radiation center didn't recommend anything but aloe vera.

"Hi" to the other January chemo ladies - aren't you glad to be on this thread now?!

I actually feel like the "young, healthy one" in the radiation waiting room...some of the other folks look pretty ill... 

Ducky- I love the scratch-off lottery ticket idea. I am very reward oriented so this will be perfect for me.

I see my radiation doc on Monday, praying that I start my 33 rads the next day. I finshed chemo in mid-March and had BMX April 14. My hair has started to come back but I have no plans to look for my brush anytime soon. My nails are still popping off but I paint the stubs with a lovely pink color from OPI called "Enchantress" ( and I feel soooo enchanting these days). I still feel tired but at least I am more alert than I was on chemo, so I am anxious to get going with this next step.

In just seven weeks I look forward to"graduating" from radiation school. In the meantime, I am looking forward to all of your advice and support on how to get through this next course in the battle against breast cancer!