May 2011 Radiation

TonLee- It's oral. I take 4 500mg pills 3 times a day. It's called Curcumin C3 Complex. The University of Rodchester is putting on the study. Here is a link: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01042938

I take it during treatment and for 1 week post treatment. We'll see how it works...can't hurt to try it, it's natural : )

Finished 3 out of 21. Not bad but then I went to see my oncologist for the first time. Now I'm ready to cry. Turns out I will be doing chemotherapy after radiation.

so' i'm not crazy....

I've had 3 out of 33 treatments. i have them at 11 then i'm wiped and napping around 3-4 pm. i thought i was nuts being tired already, but after reading these posts, it makes me feel better knowing it's not just me getting tired so early!

ProudMom: "Allantoin, Dimethicone, Lanolin Oil and Propylene Glycol in an Emollient Base."  It feels greasy going on but it's absorbed pretty quickly and hasn't stained anything.

Ewa-Swimmer:  That's really rough; I'm sorry.

Hdangelbaby:  It's the same for me.  I'm irradiated at 9 and napping by 3.

Hey everyone...I had my 6th of 16 radiation treatments today...so far, still so good...

I did have an interesting experience yesterday...I had an appointment to see a doctor who has been treating me for vericose veins...he injects a saline solution into the vein and then it disintegrates or something (sorry, I should know the details...but you get the idea). Anyway, when I told him that I was a currently having radiation treatments, he said that he wouldn't be able to do the vein treatment as I would be at an extreemly elevated risk of developing a blood clot. Now I already knew that blood clots were a possible side effect of the treatment...although rare...but he said no, people who have cancer are much more likely to develop clots. He said to come back and see him after I have been on Tamoxifen for 6 months. I guess that if I don't have a clot in the first 6 months of taking the drug, that I'm probably not likely to. Interesting anyway I thought...not that we needed anything else to worry about. He told me to wear knee high compression stockings to try to prevent clots from forming. He also told me to lose 50 lbs...doh..he said I need to get to a 25 BMI...I haven't had a 25 BMI since I got pregnant with my first child.

I'm really looking forward to going home for the weekend. 10 days living in someone else's space without a break is enough for me...but, the people I'm staying with have been outstanding!

I have been feeling a bit tired too...I think the second day was when it started lol...I thought the same as everyone else...the literature says you don't get tired until the second or so week...strange. I'm still using the Glaxal Base..it works really well! No burning yet at all.

I also like the idea of a lotto ticket a day...I'm going to go buy 16 tomorrow and I'll have a bonus scratching day to catch up to my treatments...Great idea ladies! Thanks!

Ha ha...I have been counting during the treatment too...I am getting to about 250 each time. I find it keeps me calm. I don't know what it is, but I feel quite anxious during the treatment even though it doesn't hurt or anything...I think it is because my preconception is that radiation is bad in most cases...except this one.

cb451  thats so funny that your doc ecommended that.  We own a feed supply store and carry that product, my husband uses it in the winter on his hands!

Kasey... I am taking tumeric oral supplement, dont think probably same as your trial?  Just got at vitamin store because i read somewheres here it has cancer fighting abilities.  Someone posted a website on the studies of curcumin (tumeric) for ca.  Dont know what the c3 complex is?

Moooooooooooo Mooooooooooooo to you cb451, I'm still laughing..........well think I'll go in and milk and massage my utters...............hysterical............gotta get me some of that good stuff.............thanks for the laugh, .........hugs

Nic.....the only reason I don't is because one of my grown kids takes me everyday, so usually we are deep in conversation, but this week I have to say was a little different..............when I came home I felt like "Debbie Downer"..............not sure why, but I did..........If I was alone coming home, I would not be surprised I would do the same.............

So.... four down, twenty four left.  I'm a little different from many of you... I am having radiation despite having a bilateral mastectomy.  I had one node positive and that node had some cancer outside the node, so they are radiating to the chest wall, superclavicle and underarm.  My left breast (the non-cancer one) was getting in the way, so they have been taping it out of the way.  However, my radiation oncologist wanted me to have some of the saline removed from the expander to be on the safe side so we wouldn't irradiate it unnecessarily.

So all this background for my cute story, entitled "when will my teenager realize I have a sense of humor?"  I was lamenting the fact that I had to see the PS to have saline removed, and would be lopsided for a month.  So I asked my daughter -- hey, you are in middle school, that's a popular age for girls to be stuffing their bras.  I'm going to need to even myself out -- can you help me?  What's the latest thing -- still tissues?  Her reaction... "Oh god mom, please don't use tissues, they always fall out and you'll just be embarrassed!".  

LisaMom - I have almost the same experience as you - bilateral, one positive node, radiation in the same places (28) and lopsided due to 50% of volume taken out of TE.  Only difference is my right breast is the non-cancer side.

Regarding stuffing - go to the fabric store.  I found some forms that are used when sewing swimsuits, lingerie, etc.  I just bought a package of those and pin them inside my bra.  I DO use two-sided tape so they won't shift around (even thought they're pinned).  Seems to work okay for the duration.  I AM, however, making an appointment for an expansion immediately following the last radiation!

Your daughter sounds like a hoot! 

duckyb1 -  My friends have offered to come along for the 45 min ride so tomorrow I am taking a dear friend with me - your right I do feel like "debbie downer". But after reading what you wrote GabbyCal - I realized it is daily reminder that I have breast cancer AND I DON'T LIKE IT!! I feel marked or tagged - like defective mdse.  I'll get over it. There is no way cancer is taking over MY LIFE!!

Thanks ladies for your insights. Sadly I know I am not alone but very thankful!

sincerely, nic

Sorry forgot to say I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on December 1.



Worried about fitting in the rads with working, somehow this is more stressing to me than Chemo because it is every day, basically with drive there and back and the time at center it is close to 2 hours every day and the center is only open until 4....oh well it is only 6weeks. I can deal.



Jean

Update: Went to see the surgeon for a recheck and Radiology Oncologist.. Surgeon said I'm good to go back to work in another week... then RO says that he is thinking 16 rad treatments and I will be good BUT we are still waiting to see if I need chemo... That appointment is Monday if the oncotype test results are back.. They weren't back when I saw the RO. I will probably start radiation in June. So I guess I'm not a May Rad person like I thought....

isee   the RO told me that sometimes they catch the top portion ( a very small sliver) of the lung with the radiation, but says it usually doesnt cause any problems because so small.  He told me this when I questioned him about rads effecting or getting my heart.

I went today for the films prior to starting rads and I thought cause I got tatoos last week that I was all done being marked but no, they put a large X on top of my boob witha sticker...lovely!  i think my bathing will cover this..I hope. He very calmly said leave this on for the duration....wanted to put an X on his forehead, or elsewhere ha ha