April 2011 Rads

Wow... All of you turning so red and peeling! My RO stopped me at 19 (last Monday) after he saw my armpit was getting red. Of course, I do live in the area of Ohio w/ the largest rate of medical lawsuits, so I guess they're just extra careful here? I go back tonight, see the other RO in the office (who I like MUCH better!) and he'll determine if I start RADS again tonight. I was using Silvadene and I think it healed up quickly.

Lisa, congrats on your last one tomorrow!

Hi Susan,

I bumped into my MO's PA who does a hour and half of chemo education before you start treatment and we got to talking, I asked her how long chemo brain lasts and she said a good twelve weeks, I looked at her funny and she asked if I was in radiation.  I said yes and she said that radiation lowers your red blood cells too.  I didn't ask for any other explanation, but will ask my RO tomorrow, that is if I write it down now and don't forget I have questions for him!!! lol.

Welcome Wally.

Ducky I think I'm one treatment ahead of you, but I really can't remember.....I did get my $66 back already on the sratch offs.  Remember I got those stupid bingo ones that take 20 minutes to do ($2 each)?  Well I scratch the bar code off, take it to the machine to scan and call it a day.  The numbers are really way to small to see or scratch off!!!!

MIzchiz, my MO said she would postpone the treatment herself if she felt the need....With large breasts I guess that is her concern.  This 90+ degree weather is not helping either.....

Readingmama- I too got my boost markings today.... I have two more whole breast zaps. I had Sharpie markings all along.... but they had clear tape coverings. I picked up some cotton shelf camisoles that I will retire when this is over. I never had any clothes ruined over the camisoles. But honestly today's markings have a lot of ink...and its 90 degrees. Maybe a gauze pad? It's going to be a long two weeks.

Gina- new markings took maybe 10 minutes with more xrays even though I had them on Friday. (Always on Fridays.) I asked why and they said checking bone structure on the form ... I don't understand but was too tired to ask.

susan g     # 21 today.......   they are just going to set me up today for the boosts. I have 8 more regular and the 5 boosts..I have 33 altogether.My rash seems better.Been putting on the lotion and sleeping in a lite tank top.My armpit looks pretty angry put some aloe on it.Well one more down today.I am in Florida and it is in the 90's..I try to stay in and stay cool as much as possible.Have a good day Ladies

Sagina..........My adorable tech with the gorgeous blue eyes, who calls me his "little lady" (trust me I am neither little or a lady, and 76)........ok let me continue....................

He said last week............we're going to do an x-ray little lady, and of course no one ever does anything to me without me saying "why", and he smiled and said..........to make sure we're doing the radiation where we should...............Not so sure I'm buying that, but that was the answer I got...........

So I said, "well considering we're on # 9 isn't that a little late if you find out your "not", he smiled and said .................nah, trust me, I know what I'm doing.............To which I said "you better", and at that point he laughed.....................So today I am going to follow-up and ask the RO when I see her, the same question..................

Ok, I made more damn mistakes this morning before leaving for Rads I could not believe it......I had a form to go out of network to a LE board certified specialist (won't get into why), but Aetna gave me paperwork that had to be filled out......I put all my information in the space where my RO had to write............then had to "white out" all the info, ...........forgot to ask the RO a question about skipping one of my days, and then laid my parking ticket down somewhere and could not find it.......The who place was laughing, and got me another ticket......we park for free.........Now mind you this was all before 9:30am.........my son (who takes me) just shook his head..........

I did ask about the radiation killing the red cells.......RO said.......yes it does, but very few with BC since they don't touch much bone while doing Rads..........Other types of Rads she said "yes", but usually breast cancer "no".......you will lose some, but not enough to make a big difference.

Also asked again today about the x-ray........said it has to do with positioning...

I get xrays every 5 days as well and was also told it was to check the positioning.

My boost markings did not take long either, maybe 20 minutes total, they did the markings then did a CT scan on me, same as the planning session for the whole breast (except I have tattoos, not the markings for the whole breast).

Saw my RO today and he said the skin was holding up great, much better than most people at this stage, so still crossing my fingers for the rest.

Ginger, not sure on boosts, most people I talked to have them, but I don't know how they determine if you need them or how many.  The boosts are done to a smaller area of the breast, just where the lumpectemy cavity is, i.e. where the tumor was.

Had #22 of 30 today - this is the first week that my whole breast is sensitive - the nipple is really, really brown (started out pink) and lots of brown spots all over.  The RO said that the brown spots were going to happen - apparently some people think they're getting skin cancer but it's just a reaction to the rads...She also said that it would take about 2 weeks after treatment for the reactions to calm down...

Yeah, belly sleeping is challenging with a sore breast - I fall asleep on my back and wake myself up when I flip onto my belly while sleeping - ugh!!! 

Didn't know about more markings for boosts...Hoping they aren't more tattoos - didn't like those tattoos one single bit.  Don't like to be permanently marked thank you...

I have had x-rays once a week - I was told by RO that it's about positioning too... 

Ducky:  Ended up buying an additional 10 more scratch tickets this weekend because I got sick of not winning on the original 30... (have won $6.00 on 3 of 22)  Won $25.00 on the first new one yesterday - Yippee!  

I don't know if I have Radiation brain or Arimidex brain (didn't have chemo) But I find that I can't find a word I'm looking for and I forget to do things that I've said I'll do...I've always had a very good memory so it's annoying as all heck...

I get xrays (they call them pictures) every 4 days.   Had them yesterday at #9/33.  Yee hah... #10 today, and better than the lottery tickets, I am going to Foxwoods for the night with 2 girlfriends.  Foxwoods is a very large casino in Connecticut.

Wondering if anyone else here is tired?  I am trying to lose weight, and if I do not eat enough, I am wiped.  Really wiped.  Also I need to drink a ton of water.

 I anyone else having any nausea or heartburn?  Or is it just what I am eating?  

 Thanks all...and lots of hugs. 

Finished 20/20 treatments yesterday, with the final 4 being boosts to the tumor bed.  Had a little pain in the tumor bed area, but otherwise no other complaints.  I did catch whatever my older daughter had:sore throat, sore chest and feel quite miserable and has knocked me for a loop energy wise.  I was just thinking on Tuesday how great I felt and was at the gym working out, running on the treadmill and now feel pretty tired and miserable.

I get a mammogram in October and see my oncologist in September.  Then its a mammogram every year and a 6 month check up with the GP for the next 5 years I think. I asked my oncologist if I now look for symptoms of metasis and she said no just live your life.  Easy to say harder to do.  She said keep exercizing and eating a low fat diet and now I could start with more antioxidants.  Is anyone taking any supplements besides vitamins?  I take multi vitamin, vitamin D, complex B and a calcium.  I try to eat blueberries everyday, as well as broccoli kale et cetera. 

Hi SusanHG,

   Your rad onc lets you drink green tea?    I had to stop that and all the antioxidant supplements, too.    I found that lots of them tell their patients this because they are afraid it will interfere with the rads killing the cancer cells.

    I miss the green tea....

Hi All:)

Tomorrow is #23/33. Going okay .I am very pink, sunburn like.I asked about taking anything like vitamins...all they said no fish oil.I guess they are all different.My rash seems better ,so that's good.Only 2 more days this weekHave a great night.

Ginger, I was a single mom when my daughter was young...l didn't have cancer then, but I struggled everyday financially....I would leave the porch light on all the time, so when we got home I knew what I was walking into.  After a while of that, my little one (now 20) would exclaim when we pulled up to the house "Look mommy the lights are on!" Kids are sooo smart aren't they.

Call the other people you are behind with and ask to set up payment plans.  If you have a home, make that first....the water, electric, and cable don't do you a bit of good without the house....learned that lesson too!

So sorry for the added stress during this time.

I asked my RO yesterday about food, vitamin, etc restrictions, he said there are none.  I read on this website about radiation and side effects etc. and this website talks about no supplements....I guess it's all about who's doing the talking?

12/33 and I now have pain, can't tell from where, just hurts in general.

Thank you Gina! I don't whine too much but this really got to me. I hope I see the security guard again tomorrow... I probably won't say anything, but I will give him the "stink eye"...lol.

And Debbie! Thank you too! It upsets me that you were fired. Even after I became a teacher (not teaching this year) I always wanted to become an attorney for just this type of shittery that you've experienced. Oh, how I wish I had the means to go back to school! Just think of all the people that get screwed over in this sort of way w/ no way to fight it. And the elderly who are ill and have no family and possible memory problems. I wish I could save everyone from injustice, you know?

Thanks again for your support. (((((HUGS)))))