April 2011 Rads

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    Ginger and Debbie I hear ya! I wish I could start a non profit foundation to help everyone with their medical bills and insurance  - i.e. facilities charging patients what is negotiated away....etc.  I help our employees here with the same issues and am appalled by how many places try to collect what is not collectible - or charge them first then get paid by insurance and don't refund money.....

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited May 2011

    Ginger, sending ((((HUGS)))) your way, definately don't need any added stress like that.

    Debbie, I can't believe you got fired! That can't be legal? Good wishes in your job search.

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited May 2011

    Last Whole Breast today - Yeah!!! Tomorrow is a planning session for the boosts, so my skin will get 3 days off before the boosts begin, excited about that also.  #27/34 done now.

    My goal was to be done by Memorial Day and with 10 days to get in 7 boosts I should make it!

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  • AimeeMac
    AimeeMac Member Posts: 241
    edited May 2011

    Reading Mama - last day for me too of whole breast - got marked up for boosts, which start tomorrow. Have only missed one day when the machine was down; this time next week I'll be done, done, done!

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    congrats to you almost doners!!!! I'm 15/33 today.....almost half way there!

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  • walley
    walley Member Posts: 231
    edited May 2011

    hi everyone,

    #24/33 today.4 more whole breast then 5 boosts.Will be all done on May 26.Smile Enjoy your weekend Cool

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  • walley
    walley Member Posts: 231
    edited May 2011

    that's great.Happy for you!

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  • ritaz
    ritaz Member Posts: 186
    edited May 2011

    Yes! Me too!  Last whole breast today - 25/30...Next week 5 days of boosts and I'm done, done, done - did I mention DONE??    Will be done next Friday!

    Asked about more markings for boosts yesterday and since the lumpectomy is close to my chest wall the tech said that they will just direct the beams to that area using the same procedure - just concentrating the beams...That's my story and I'm sticking to it...Wink

    ((((Hugs to all)))) for a healing weekend...

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011

    Walley and Rita:  looks like we are running pretty close.  Just finished 25/36.  Have three more full breast next week. Then 8 boosts after.  I finish the day after Memorial Day!  Yippee..

    Very glad for the weekend.  just started getting tiny blisters around my cleavage and they are very itchy.  they told me this weekend should be all rest and skin nurturing...good thing it will rain the whole weekend!

    Susan

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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited May 2011

    just finished 20/33 today and got my simulation for the boosts, plus another lovely tat right by my scar from lumpectomy.  Thank God I didn't feel it from being numb from the surgery!  Wishing you all a very relaxing and nap-filled weekend!

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  • sammolisa
    sammolisa Member Posts: 180
    edited May 2011

    Morning Ladies!    My wonderful husband surprised me with a night at Opry/Gaylord Resort to celebrate the end of rads.  Woooooohooooo!!!!   It was great!

    Finished rads this past tuesday - but my skin didn't hold up well towards the end - the skin  in my underarm had turned grey (died) and sloughed off so now the underarm is all raw -   thankful that most of it is numb from the surgery still but now I have to slather on Aquaphor all the time which is ruining my shirts.

    As for the boosts - the doc told me that because my surgery was a lumpectomy and a breast reduction at the same time - the tumor field is no longer in the same area and with the skin and tissue moved around to new areas they have no idea where to do the boosts at. -- Hence no boosts - so if any of us did what i did - lumpectomy with reduction, that may explain why some of us have boosts and some don't.     How is everyone doing with their skin issues?   My RO said the rads take a week or so before the reaction to the skin peaks and then healing can start - so sometime next week the skin will stop getting redder and more burned before it turns the corner - kinda like it gets worse before it gets better.

    I need a nap!  

    Hugs to all -  have great weekends.

    Lisa

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    probably a dumb question with an obvious answer, but....in the sweltering Texas heat today, did I really feel my skin heating up?

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011

    Lisa-just finished week #5 and have three more full txs. to go.  My armpit is very grey, as well as the area under my breast.  I tell everyone that I am all ready for BBQ season--I'm like a charred hotdog!

    I really, really hope I don't start peeling next week!  I am going to dive into the jar of Aquaphor and not get out until Monday Laughing

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited May 2011

    Hi everyone! Popping in to let you know that today is 2 weeks post rads, and nothing happened to my skin except losing the tan!  No additional cooking, or peeling or sensitivity...each day made me think less and less of some underarm soreness.  So I guess everyone is different and they prepare you for the worst, just in case.  Been working full time through the rads and after, find that I tire about 7 pm so it helps me to sleep, unlike chemo that kept me up days at a time!!

    Have a restful weekend everyone, this part of the journey is ending for many of you...hooray!!

    I'm going to celebrate with some friends tonight, cept I'll probably be the one ready to leave early!!

    Take care all.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited May 2011

    sammolisa: I finished my regular rads last Tues (5/3) and my skin was very dark red and tough textured, yet super sensitive. (how nice). It made it hard to sleep in any position except my back. Anyway, my last regular rad was that Tues and my RO gave me 3 extra days off before the boost. I started peeling last Thurs and thought, "no way am I going to be ready for Tx on Monday." Guess what? Things got remarkably better on Fri/Sat/Sun. (thanks to the miracle creams).  When I started to peel, I used a wash cloth to help exfoliate and I think that helped the cream absorb better.  Just wanted to let you know that even at the darkest hour, things can turn around pretty quickly (at least for me). Felt like a miracle, really. Take care.

    (BTW, I finished 5 days of boost this week and only 3 more to go. I can't wait!!!

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited May 2011

    Happy Friday everyone!!!  Enjoy the break, I was very glad not to have Rads today, just the planning session for the boosts.  I am very tired, but can't seem to get to sleep either the past few nights... I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    17/33 nipple hurts, stabbing pain from the inside out? ouchie....skin looks red, then seems to get better overnight...any ideas for the pain?

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011

    Gina-I do two things for pain--first, either take Motrin or Aleve when pain is bad.  It does help. Second-Try to find something to put on where the nipple is not rubbed against plus something that isn't too tight to promote swelling.  I'm actually finding that the most difficult part of rads is getting dressed in the morning.  It seems that all the shirts I bought (shelf bra camisoles) are way too tight and I really don't own anything very loose at this point.  Well, anything loose that I am willing to sacrifice to Aquaphor stains.  I refuse to go shopping yet again!  I should have bought a package of men's muscle shirts-loose and cheap and comfy.  Maybe I'll end up giving in and buying some.

    Good luck!

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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited May 2011

    Susan, that's what I did...I went and bought some Hanes Men's small t-shirts and wear them to bed with aquaphore...seems to reall help, except I now have a bunch of really small blisters on my chest at my sternum where they really bring the machine in close to zap a node there...ouch!

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  • MizChiz
    MizChiz Member Posts: 36
    edited May 2011

    Thanks everybody for you support over my water issue! I had emailed the mayor and the next day I heard from the office manager of the water department. Funny thing, he understood the financial implications of cancer treatment due to a close friend of his who had breast cancer a couple years ago. He gave me his direct line at the water dept. and told me to call him if I cannot pay my bill in full, and he will make a notation on my account so that this won't happen again. Pretty cool, huh?

    This should be my last week of RADS, 4 more to go, no boosts. I asked my RO why I didn't have to have any boosts and he told me because my surgeon re-excised my breast after the lumpectomy (or as I tell it, took another slab of flesh outta my breast) and the second surgery showed no cancer cells. I hope I make it through the week... My breast is looking sunburned but I keep slathering Silvadene on it.

    Everyone take care and have a fantastic weekend!

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011

    thegood5:  I have those same blisters!  it's been a tough weekend trying not to scratch.  I amgoing to get that package of t-shirts asap!! I start my sixth week on monday.  3 more full, then 8 boosts.

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  • msjag
    msjag Member Posts: 416
    edited May 2011

    I lived in those t-dhirts and followed the suggestions of the January rad gals, they said as you get to the middle end of rads, to avoid skin to skin, by wearing a larger bra over the ment's t-shirts, worked great...no issue at all with under the breast, or any skin issues under the arm.

    Rainy weekend in MA and a rainy week to follow, after such a snowy winter, we need the warm sunshine.  Good news is that I don't have to worry about getting too much sun!  These days its always important to find the silver lining!!  Wish you all a s/e radiation treatment/post treatment.

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  • walley
    walley Member Posts: 231
    edited May 2011

    Thanks to all for the t-shirt suggestion.I tried  this over the weekend.My armpit is so red and sore.

    This does help alot. # 25 today.Four whole breast and five boosts left......light at the end of the tunnelSmile All your posts have helped me get through this.Have a great week, ladiesCool

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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited May 2011

    The March rads girls also suggested getting some really soft fleece at the fabric store and cutting it into pieces and putting it places where skin touches skin. (only if the skin is not open tho!)  I put some under my arm when it's sore and it really helps.

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011
    Just picked up some XL boys t-shirts at the store.  The men's shirts seemed extremely long!  These look and feel great, so I will be living in these for a while.  Just completed tx #26 today.  Very red and starting to peel in my armpit.  I am starting to hurt on my side under the armpit now.  Two more full tx then onto boosts.  In the home stretch! Cool
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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited May 2011

    Any ideas of gifts for the techs? I am feeling very sluggish and not very creative at all.  Still have 7 to go, so no rush.  I will probably end up just bringing in cookies... I was thinking about fresh fruit, like fruit flowers, but since I go at the end of the day, I think it's better if I bring in something that can keep. Actually, my last tx is Tuesday and I have Herceptin the next day, so could bring fruit in then if I wanted too...

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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited May 2011

    I have seen others on here say that they took in markers and coloring books, and Krispie Kreme donuts...I'm going for the dot to dot books and donuts...should bring on a good laugh!

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011

    Wow! those sound like great ideas. Dot to dot books would be funny!  Originally, my plan was a big box of fancy chocolate, but it might be too hot here by then for that.  Still thinking...

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    Congrats to all the homestretchers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait for that moment!!! I'll ge there soon!

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  • sammolisa
    sammolisa Member Posts: 180
    edited May 2011

    Cking in with everyone!  

    Has anyone heard from Letlet?  I know she is done with rads but she burned under her arm like I did and was wondering how she was doing - I will send her a pm.  

     Today is 6 days post rads.   The chest near my collar bone keeps getting redder and redder by the day  --that part is the most discomfort, tho I have been getting those shooting pains in my breast like I did after surgery.   Hopefully it will calm down in the next day or so.   Ya know,  has anyone read the ingrediants on Aquaphor?   It's 50% petrolatum!!!!   Pretty much makes it VASELINE!!!!  with some Glycerin.    So I said screw it - I am not putting it on anymore - if the sole reason is to keep all the areas moist with something, I am gonna use something that smells better so I switched to Palmers. That weird something is dead under my arm smell is gone now.  I have ruined so many shirts with Aquaphor!   Never had any problem under the breast, just tanned/pink.

    I made cupcakes for everyone for the last day.  with strawberry filling and buttercream frosting.  Might make them something else in a week when I go back in for a skin ck. 

    Hugs to all!

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