May 2011 Radiation

I haven't posted in awhile because we had a big surprise last Friday. My daughter had her baby 4 1/2 weeks early, so we flew out to L.A. this past weekend to meet our new grandson. He is in ICU, but is doing well. My daughter had told me about her pregnancy the day after my cancer diagnosis, so this has kept me going throughout this long cancer journey. Needless to say we are very happy. Today I had #8 out of 33 treatments. Fatigue was so overwhelming with chemo, and the SE's were so miserable that so far rads are going well. It helps that my techs are so wonderful. The nurses and receptionists are all helpful as well, so this is all going better than I imagined. I have only won one dollar on my scratch-offs, but just tossing the losers in the trash makes the pile get smaller and means I am getting closer to the end. I also finally got my surgery date for reconstruction. I am having a Tram. That means I get a tummy tuck out of this! Of course this means another surgery and four days in the hospital, but I still feel like the worst part is over. I have been living with this since late last August when I first noticed that "something" was not right. I did not realize then that a whole year of my life would be given up to this journey.

MaggieMc2: Congratulations on the new grandbaby!!

sagina:  Yeah...he warned me there was like a 1 in 200  chance I'd have some issue with that and because it's my left, I have to hold my breath during treatment (wheeee). I still suspect the young gal got it wrong yesterday (or maybe I moved) but we'll see! I don't see the doc until Monday but maybe I'll ask them to confirm my lungs aren't getting hit or something!

GmaFoley - I agree you should stick around with this cool May crowd. Glad to hear you've gotten through the chemo/no chemo process and are starting rads. We've got your back.

tinaj - I had those sharp stabbing pains after my first lumpectomy. First time they didn't get clean margins so I had a second one a couple months later. Haven't had any shooting pains after the second one. 

tinaj~ i'm getting my right one done, and he showed me the cat scan image with the high tech markings showing just what is getting radiated.  It is a sliver of the lung, I wouldn't have seen it had it not pointed it out. 

When he showed me the image with the radiated area shaded in red, I almost passed out! I'm getting whole breast, underarm, and super clav.   I just had my DD home from college for a couple of weeks look at my back, it feels sunburned....she traced the red with her finger, pretty much the same as the front.  Now how do I reach that to apply cream?  I'll be home alone for around a month starting next week....any ideas....

I experimented to find a tool that would help me reach around on my back. A plastic shoehorn works for me.

sagina  phone a friend?  I always feel very warm in the afternoon after tx , like I was sitting out in the sun, but no skin irritation yet, using he aquaphor.

The tech told me to get naked at night and let the air get to the skin for awhile.  So there I sat with my shirt half off watching american idol last evening.  DH likes the new plan!

MaggieMc  congrats on the new baby!  Isnt it funny how things work out...I know you were worried about getting there for the event.

slcst12~ on the lung involvement, my RO showed me the film and the connect the dots mapping type field and he pointed out the sliver of lung that gets hit.  Thankfully I'm not feeling that.  Also not precise is what they tell you are normal side effects or timing of them.  I was tired from the first treatment, like a lazy tired....

I'm also TN - how did your tumor respond to the chemo? or did you have surgery first?

Great suggestions for the back lubing! Thank you all.  I do have friends that would come over in a heartbeat to do that - they keep asking what can I do, oh wait till I tell them! lol.  I like the shoe horn idea too.  I was thinking a soft lufa type sponge thing, but wondering how I would wash it so the shoe horn is even better. 

My techs have never had to touch me........they use the sheet I'm on to move me wherever I have to go.....I was told about the lung, small portion at the bottom.......I am fortunate I finish week #4 tomorrow, and so far I am doing very well........no burn or soreness..........I bought 6 mens XL white T shirts today.......will use them if necessary............so far I only put the Aquaphor on at night, and sometimes Aloe Gel............If I keep going like this I will be fine..........I doubt that is going to be the case, but "I can dream can't I."

My techs are great, and they are all different at different times.......Probably a team of about  6 or 8 thoughout the week..........They are so good, and I don't doubt for a minute that they do not know what they are doing...............Probably because my RO, is so particular, and right to the point......

Today they were suppose to do an x-ray, and then they said to me..............The RO wants to be here while we do the x-ray, and she isn't here today, so we will do it tomorrow.....She was also in on all the tattoos, simulations, and each and everything they did prior to starting the Rads..

This hospital cancer Center is the best.... Next week its a C-scan.

Will still be glad when I'm done............then I get to Ring the Bell..........All my kids are taking off work to be there...........I think they are nuts, but I just let the do what they want to.

1/3 of the way to 33 and being done. Nodules in thyroid still inflamed and that is the worst SE of this entire fiasco. I think I will swallow some aloe vera gel!

Bambi..don't do that!! lol  (I actually read some cancer patients have done exactly that and died from it..but not because of a sore throat, I think they were trying to detox after chemo...can't remember).

My ladies are no non-sense, in and out, NEXT!! 

But it's kinda nice to just do it and leave.  I frigging hate it and I am sure they can tell.

So far so good (just some itching, tightness, etc)...I hate to even put that out there in cyber space...tempting fate and all.

So glad to read you ladies are doing so well.

I have a wedding...a frigging must be fabulous for wedding two days after the end of rads.....I can't even buy a dress for it right now because I don't know how bad I'll be peeling...

I'm supposed to get expanded Tuesday...I

Guess what happened???  

 I went into the cancer treatment center to turn in financial paperwork and saw my nurse from my appt yesterday at the front desk.. I told her I slathered the aloe on my breast last night and this morning my breast was a bluish pink - she decided to take a peak and when i took off my bra - I had a little red rash... I'm allergic to the aloe... Not a good start especially since I don't even start my treatments until the 31st... Obviously, I am stuck just with the aquaphor from day 1 ..

Good news is that the County Cancer Society here is going to help me with gas and food money. At least something good is happening from all that paperwork I've had to do...

@ nic42:  You are in good company!  Last night I cycled through several crying jags, with no particular provocation.  Sometimes I feel I've gone mental, but all the literature says this is normal.

Dear Fellow Irradiated Ladies:  Today I had my 5th of 30 treatments, so I'm officially 1/6th of the way through - woot!  I wish I wasn't so unbelievably tired.  ("Yawn" off to nap.)

4th treatment DONE! Almost at the end of the first week!! WOO HOO

As i was walking in to the treatment center today, i was thinking 'man, i am tired of coming here everyday this week" then i kinda chuckled to myself thinking, i had better change that attitude, plus only one more week, then hopefully a nice weekend before we tackle week #2!

GmaFoley, I don't see you ever "falling apart", that's what we are for!!!! Holding each other up!

TonLee~ I was laughing with you about the laying on your back before I read your next line!!! thank you, I needed to laugh today.

I had #20 or 21 today....I really can't keep track....I have a couple of sunburn spots on my back, shoulder blade. The techs called in the RO and we had a naked party in the treatment room, oh wait, only I was naked....anyway....he looks at my back and says that's below the treatment field, must be something else....we'll keep an eye on it.  Does he think I'm sunning somewhere? Where else would I get a sunburn on my back? Oh yeah, maybe from my ultraviolet lights in my office, I better remember to work in the dark!  Bet he really went to study my films today?