May 2011 Radiation

welcome ftblmom and Jean H

Ftblmom, I was just like you, and nearly fell over when I saw this gi-normous 3 inch scar on my boob from my lumpectomy. they don't tell you stuff like that. Also. I got told I'd "lose my hair" not, "my eyelashes, and my nose hair too" They sort of left that part out.

 Thanks to all for posting your experiences with rads. I start next Mon the 23rd. I already have my tattoos (they are very small, like a pin-point) and i'm ready to roll.

Thx also Julie H for posting about Tom's Of Maine. I ordered some, but haven't tried it yet. I worry now that it will be a slimy mess. I'm *so* not going until July 8th with no deodorant. That's just the way it is.

Another question for everyone:
My RO told me no shaving that area for the duration of treatment. Really? Like, is this what all of your all's docs told you too?
B/c seriously, I so should have been diagnosed so that I could have had rads in the winter... LOL

Take it easy everyone!

I'm seriously thinking about taking a scissors to my underarm hair soon. Might not be as neat as shaving but at least I won't have all this long hair there.

I also started today, so I'm 1 down, 29 to go! I'm a little unusual in that I'm 11 weeks post-lumpectomy (due to a vacation I had scheduled for a year that they agreed I could still take). I'm hoping being more healed will help minimize some of the SEs...I know my boob already shrunk from the surgery edema continuing to dissipate!  I imagine some blame radiation for that based on the timing.

So, I swear I felt warmth when they were doing it. The head of the machine was out of my eyesight and I didn't really even know they were done with xrays and actually doing the rads...it wasn't until I felt warmth that I thought "hey...I think this is it!"

My boob doesn't feel like a happy camper but I'm not sure if it's because of the tats or the rads. OH! The tats! I wasn't expecting them to drop ink on me and then poke me with a needle! It's such a "jailhouse" approach to tattoo's! lol  Wasn't thrilled with the one near my areola (anxiety-wise) but interestingly, that hurt the least!

About the "no shaving" order...I say we make it "glass half full" and say we're "going French"!  

Hello ladies!

I am just joining and so glad to hear all of your input and words of encouragement! I was on the Feb Chemo board and finished 4 x TC on April 7th.  Just had my 5/30 of rads today.  It is all so scary but nothing could be worse than chemo - right?!?! Well, I just wanted to say hi and thanks to all for being here!

Lots of hugs and positive energy to all.....

Mary

ftblmom3~ I was tired from day one of the rads, but a weird tired.  I wrote on facebook that radiation fatigue is the inability to want to get out of bed in the morning...

I finished 18 today, my skin always looks pink from like day 5.  I'm really fair skinned and haven't noticed the "tan" look so much as the pink to red to pink look.  Today my underarm is hurting, kind of sticking to itself.  I learned from the April Rads ladies that the skin turns gray before it starts to really break down.

TonLee~ my RO said the hair under the arm wouldn't grow while in treatment...well it better stop soon or I'm going to have to go to a salon to get a trim!!!!! lol.  My breast hurts too, and I think a lot of that is the stretch I have to get in everyday for Rads. 

For people starting out and wondering what joys radiation will bring - I finished 12 of 28 today.  I burn in under 10 minutes in the sun (fair skin), but so far my skin is holding up really well.  No pink, no tan, nothing.  My treatment is IMRT (intensity modulated), and the last time I counted, I got about 90 zaps, lasting about 1-3 seconds each.  It's a bit longer than standard treatment, but the tech said it's also easier on the skin (and more expensive, so it required special authorization through insurance).  If I'm fatigued from radiation, I'm not feeling it.  Guess I'm "lucky" because I'm coming off of chemo.  My doc said that chemo patients often don't feel radiation fatigue because of how much energy you gain back after chemo.

At any rate, radiation sucks, but it's been very do-able for me and WAY easier than chemo ever was!

Sandy

Howdy everyone,

So far I have finished 9 or 16 treatments. My underarm is also a tad sore...I also have a strange very sharp pain on the left/front side of my head....not all the time...it comes and goes. Anyone else with any weird things going on?

I am also getting a bit more tired. climbed a flight a of stairs and walked up a hill and thought I was going to collapse...sheeeeeeees. I will sure be glad when I can be back home and able to use my home gym and exercise bike. I'm really getting seriously out of shape. It's too bad they don't have a radiation machine closer to where I live so I wouldn't have to live elsewhere during treatment. That is the worst part of this whole situation for me. I am very lucky this week though, my daughter took some of her holidays so that she could spend the week here with me. We are going to play tourist for the next 4 days. May as well make the best of it!

I go in for my "vsim" (sp?) this morning after my herceptin treatment.  I start the rads on Thursday.  I really appreciate all the information those of you who have already started have been sharing.  At least I kind of what to expect.

I used the solid crystal deodorant yesterday and it seemed to work really well.  Of course, I was indoors all day, but I think it's going to be OK for the duration.

I'm wondering about the underwire bra thing.  Is there a reason other than skin sensitivity why we're told not to wear an underwire bra?  I really don't like not being "supported" and have always disliked bras without an underwire.  I'd much rather wear an underwire bra -- just one thing that I could do to be more comfortable mentally during this whole thing.

Time to go put my numbing cream on my port.  Hope everyone has a great day!

JulieH- I am right there with you with the thoughts on underwires, but as I understand it, the skin around your whole breast as well as under and the sensitive area beside it, is going to be "attacked" every day, thus the the skin break down some. If you have a wire rubbing at it every day, i think it will just make it worse. I don't want any more freaking problems, so my 38D's will be in cami's with bra thing or soft sports bras for the next 6+ weeks.

carberry-we are on the same schedule, #2 for me today at 3pm. I am hoping today is better, though I am just really emotional this morning, i was thinking of my plans for today and actually forgot about rads for a minute, then it just bummed me out that it is a part of my routine now! I need to snap out of this! Good luck to you!

Tammy - you are the only LASTone. I had the scan yesterday. No big deal at all. I go back Thursday for xrays and to start the rads. I have to have 31 treatments. I told the techs, who are very nice, that I want all appts to be first thing - like when they open the doors. I dont want to wait to have it done. You guys have given a lot of good advice. I want to be prepared as much as I can. I think the lottery tickets are a great idea. I am going to do that too. I buy them anyway every now and then so it would be something to look forward to like winning.....let's all keep posting as we get through this. Good luck to everyone...diane

I just finished 15 of 36 yesterday. The techs commented that my skin's getting dry so suggested I add Aquaphor at night in addition to slathering on Aloe Vera gel 4x/day. WOW - that's greasy stuff. I knew from reading posts here that it would stain anything so picked out a soft t-shirt to sacrifice to the cause. The t-shirt's so sticky I figure I can just put it back on and the Aquaphor will transfer to my skin tonight. (haha) 

I'm following their instructions faithfully. I figure if I go off the reservation and have problems, there will be no one to blame but me. That said, any suggestions on working through the Aquaphor stickiness will be welcomed. 

Tonlee  How was it today?  I find myself panicking a litlle when I hear the beams working, kind of makes me breath harder, kind of panicky, but trying so hard to lie still.   Cant remember where you all said you found the pure aloe vera.  Every one I look at has other crap in it.  I am just using the aquaphor for now.

I found Vaseline 100% aloe vera @ Walgreens if you have one where you live.

Thanks on the info for aloe vera   I did check our walmart, but they are very sm and dont carry much, so i will keep looking.  we do have a walgreens   Came home with a huge headache today, hope it is only weather related, rain, rain go away.

Carberry,

It sucked, lol.  I hate rads.  I'm not even going to try and have a "good attitude" about it.  Of all the treatment so far, this offends me on a visceral level the most.  The thought of radiating my body....ugh....something about it just KILLS me.

Ok, I bought 99% Aloe from Trader Joes.  It's in the deodorant, body soap aisle.  I paid $2.99 for 12 ounces.  I get off the table, go into the changing room and slather it all over my boob, clav, neck, and the exit point on my back (Which is already red!)

I also purchased EMU oil (100% certified by the EMU people association)...I apply it a few hours after the aloe, and then the aquafor before bed.  I work out early in the morning, then wash it all off, go in for rads, then start over.