May 2011 Radiation

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited May 2011

    Simplymarvelous99 - I want to echo what Ducky just posted. If you're advised that radiation will help you, my recommendation is to embrace it. When I went for my first setup with the people at the radiation center, the first thing the technician said to me was "nothing we do here will hurt". And that has been my experience.

    I think you'll get a good feel for what the process involved by reading through these posts.

    Yes, it's an everyday reminder of what you're dealing with. Yes, you'll need to get into a routine of slathering up with creams and lotions.  It's OK to shop around to find an RO and center that you like. When you read through the posts, you'll see that every place seems to do things a little differently. 

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited May 2011

    GmaFoley - A million thanks for posting the information from the nutritionist!!!

    There's so much info out there these days on nutrition, it has almost become static to me.

    This list makes sense and I trust the source.

    I think our bodies often tell us what they need. Now I understand why I've been craving eggs and spinach. I used to eat each of these maybe once every couple months. Now I eat both several times a week.

    I get a big bag of spinach, wash it up good, then keep the washed spinach in the refrigerator and have it sometimes a couple times a day. It's really easy to put a tiny bit of olive oil in a frying pan, then just saute the spinach a couple minutes. I'm having eggs for lunch a couple times a week.

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  • bambi380
    bambi380 Member Posts: 44
    edited May 2011

    Ladies not only do I have to endure RADS, but I now must put up with a "fluttering" rapid heart beat. Just switched meds to keep the ticker beating nice and slow. Hey, I had a very good heart before the adriamycin dump. What was I was told? There is a 5% chance it could do damage to the heart. Am I really this unlucky? I am 54 and time will tell.



    13/33 RADs done and will see what is around the next corner.

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2011

    i know there are a few of us that started at the same time, so we are 25% done!! (8/31 for me) I still have pink swollen boob but seem to be holding up ok all in all. I think now that I am in week #2 and have gotten to know alot of the techs and nurses as well as the other patients in the same time slot, it makes it a little better.

    We get a 3 day weekend, thats something to look forward to!

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  • GmaFoley
    GmaFoley Member Posts: 7,091
    edited May 2011

    Gabby the nutritionist also said she would like me to have at least one egg a day - its the best place to get the Healing type protein - that and fish..

    Well today was my first day back to work - with a note not to lift anything over 10 lbs with my right arm.. I stocked zippers, patterns and threads and did the cash register... Only 4 hours but it seemed to kick my butt... did I really get that out of shape in a month and a half??? 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    ftblmom3 did the math....8/30 for me so I'm about 25% done too AND I won $20 on a lottery ticket today!!  I'm crediting slcs12 for keeping the faith in my scratchers! Wink

    Dang....I don't really cook so if there's anyone in the SF Bay Area who's going to make duckyb1's cookies, I'll be happy to bring the milk!  They sound awesome! That drizzily icing reminded me that my mother used to make a yellow box cake as a bundt and then mix powdered sugar and lemon juice the same way to pour over it - I LOVED that cake! Thanks for taking me down memory lane with that Ducky!

    Simplymarvelous99: Don't be afraid to get a second opinion! We're here for you either way.

    isee: Yay for you being down to your LAST TREATMENT!!  That's awesome!

    bambi380: Are you sure you aren't just having anxiety in general? I've suffered with a fluttering heart on and off for a few years...stress-related. Was having it at the start of radiation so I took Ativan to keep it to a minimum. The Doc who diagnosed it in 2004 told me most people get it at some point in their lives...

    Whew! Did I miss anyone? You guys have been posting a lot while I've been at work! Happy Hump Day, peeps!

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited May 2011

    #8 down....late, but done....

    I'm turning pink...BOO!

    Nothing on the scratch offs...

    3 day weekend for healing...woot!!

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  • bambi380
    bambi380 Member Posts: 44
    edited May 2011

    Tina I hope it IS anxiety! But I ended up in the ER with an EKG that showed a heart attack. They decided it was electrical. All of this mess we are all going through would make anyone anxious. Still prayng the "red devil drug" did not harm my ticker. I will take anxiety any day.

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  • slcst12
    slcst12 Member Posts: 161
    edited May 2011

    Tinaj:
    Whoo hoo!!! Congrats on the $20 bucks!!! Yipppeee!!!

    Bambi:
    I am very worried about what the adriamycin did to my heart...when I first met with the med onc, she talked about some side effects, "you might lose your hair..." I was like, 'Um, let's talk about cardiac toxicity and permanent neuropathy, b/c, you know, the HAIR GROWS back..."

    I think she knew then not to gloss over anything with me:)

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  • LisaMomOfFour
    LisaMomOfFour Member Posts: 465
    edited May 2011

    Count me in on the worried about A/C and my  heart.  My blood pressure used to be consistently around 115 over 70 something, occasionally would hit 80.  Now every time it is taken, the lower number is over 90, and I had one frightening reading where the lower number was 110!  My radiology nurse thinks it's likely a brewing heart problem related to chemo.   We are going to watch it, then I'll need to see a cardiologist.  Depressing. 

    So far though rads is going fine.  13 down 15 to go.  Tomorrow is officially the halfway point.  

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

    Hdanglebaby~ I have the same thing, are they hair folicles?  That's what they look like to me, without any hair of course....

    I'm 25/33, when I started I didn't think they would end, then I lost count and now pleasantly surprised - I thought time was going backward for me and forward for Ducky!! lol.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    It's 7p and I'm fighting to stay up longer! Should I just be giving in and going to bed?

    While I'm not in a fog as yet, I'm definitely feeling sleepier all the time and a bit...dull. Like isee, I also feel it when going up stairs!

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  • ewa-swimmer
    ewa-swimmer Member Posts: 49
    edited May 2011

    13/21 A couple of little blisters but saw the RO today and he said my skin was holding up very well. I get bouts of fatigue but nothing that stays around. Finish with the regular treatments on Friday then it's 6 boosts. They remarked me yesterday for the boosts. Told me not to swim, they didn't want the marks to come off. I said sorry, I fell for that at the start, just give me more tape circles and I will replace them if they fall off. I know from long distance swim races that you have to use soap and scratch at the numbers they write on your arms to get it off. Swam this morning and what do you know...I still have the tapes on.

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  • sundermom
    sundermom Member Posts: 463
    edited May 2011

    #3/33 today and it feels like I'm not getting very far very fast :)  I've been using the aloe vera gel several times a day.  I can definitely tell something is being done to that side because it feels tighter and I started getting some zips and zings like after my BMX.  My RO said this is where the nerves are being aggravated by the radiation.  I ended up with 4 tattoos only one of which really bothers me because it's right at high noon.  I did find some coverup makeup that does a beautiful job of completely making it disappear when I wear a low cut shirt - which I plan to do a lot now with the new girls! 

    I've experienced the tornado sirens twice in 3 days.  Today golf ball sized hail pelted my house.  It's creepy!  We're under a tornado watch until 5AM tomorrow so I don't think I'm going to keep much in the way of sleep tonight.

    Tammy

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  • ForMyBoys
    ForMyBoys Member Posts: 64
    edited May 2011

    I've had a fluttering heart at least once a day since the red devil. It doesn't last very long usually. I mentioned it to Onco during chemo and he said it was normal. I am ready for it to stop now...

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

    Schelly~ I had a mogus (spelling?) heart scan before the red devil and then after it.  Don't really know what they were looking for but they liked whatever they saw...Hope it subsides soon for you!

    Tammy~ So sorry for your bad weather, please stay safe.

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  • ewa-swimmer
    ewa-swimmer Member Posts: 49
    edited May 2011

    Noticed this morning that my underarm hair in my treatment area has fallen out. Nice. Next week I can shave the rest of it finally.

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  • GmaFoley
    GmaFoley Member Posts: 7,091
    edited May 2011

    ewa-swimmer - I'm glad to hear you are almost done!! Question: How many rads did you have? I'm afraid I will have a forest in my armpit before my hair falls out.

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2011

    9/31 done today! I usually go at 3pm, and last week it seemed like a popular time, but this week the techs are waiting for me when i get there!

    ok, so i am having some rashy kinda pain in my underarm and up near my shoulder but towards the front, is hurting today?  Is that from the Rads?

    What do they do for the boost treatments? I think i get six. are they longer or just stronger?

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  • carberry
    carberry Member Posts: 1,153
    edited May 2011

    tinaj sooo funny that you call Wed "hump day"    We and a bunch of friends all try to get together on Wed evenings just for a few snacks and drinks and talk about upcoming weekend,...we always call it hump night and I sure get a lot of funny looks and questions about what is hump night.

    #10 for me tomorrow and no signs of skin damage.  I did mow the lawn a little too log the other day and have sunburned arms and legs, thought i would catch hell today, but no one said a thing.  WHEW!  I do know better.

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited May 2011

    #10 for me tomorrow too Carberry....I'm getting a little pink...3 day weekend to recover tho, which is nice...

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  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited May 2011

    Rads tomorrow at 7:15, and then down to my summer home from Friday till Tuesday with my daughter and 2 grandchildren........we are opening up the house and the pool.....can't wait.  then I have 9 more Rads, and I am done..............yowza.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    9/30 and no bucks from today's scratcher so still $20 returned out of $30 investment!

    I'm pink and still having some swelling but skin doing alright. They changed my plan today based on yesterday's xray to reduce the amount of lung that was in the path Surprised  They (the technicians) said it's not unusual for the plan to change since you tend to relax during treatment as you get used to it. I would think LESS of my lung would be in the field if I was more relaxed!

    On the interesting side, they showed me the xrays on the computer (Doc hasn't shared anything like that) and I could see how close it's coming to my heart, even with me holding my breath. Scary close considering I get some hard heart palpitations sometimes!

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  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited May 2011

    Tina...stick that boob waaaay out there...

    I just can't believe this very non-precise placing of our bodies..."hold your breath"  (REALLY??) is safe...lol...it all seems so....I dunno, the way I hang curtains....I just eyeball it...but if you get out the tape measure it is NEVER level.

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  • Pinkprincess
    Pinkprincess Member Posts: 280
    edited May 2011

    10 left....woot woot!!!! Hoping to do something fun this weekend but have a sick baby:(

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  • cb451
    cb451 Member Posts: 24
    edited May 2011

    Had my 10th treatment today, only 20 more to go . . .

    My breast looks tanned, sometimes pink, and the skin is sensitive, but no blistering.  The "Udderly Smooth" bovine cream seems to be working.  FYI it's quickly absorbed so there is no tacky or sticky mess.  I too have gone the "George Costenza"  fashion route:  no bra (36C, only somewhat uncomfortable) and tees under hoodies.  When I need to look "presentable," I have a few cotton bras without underwires from Victoria's Secret.  I also have a  stretchy thing left over from nursing days, and a few sports bras.  Otherwise I'm trying to keep my skin lubricated and in fesh air. 

    For those of you who, like me, felt tired from the very first session, my RO (whom I adore) theorized the fatigue was caused by my skin healing rapidly.  She also was very reassuring about the emotional aspects of cancer, stating that no matter what the prognosis, it's a profound and life-altering event.  I have been struggling with squaring my professional identity (litigator) with my present reality. I have worked at the same job for over 14 years, putting in extensive overtime.  Now I'm taking time off to get through treatment.  A collegaue called me about one of my cases and, after cajoling chitchat ("we all miss you/are thinking of you"/etc.) he said "Do you mind if I ask what you do all day?"  Then "Why are you so tired?"  I was floored and inexplicably guilty.  I look normal and fit!  Anyway, she really helped ground me.  The depression, anxiety, guilt, it's all normal for what we are going through.  I hope this helps others who are feeling wonky too.

    Does anyone else feel naseous?  In addition to fatigue, I am experiencing waves of naseau throughout the day.  It's almost like I have the flu but no fever.  Yuck.

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited May 2011

    cb451 - I appreciate your thoughtful comments about the emotional side of cancer. Good for you to take the time you need to get through treatment. Good to hear also your RO's feedback that these feelings of depression, anxiety, etc. are normal. I strongly believe that anyone with a cancer diagnosis who doesn't have these feelings is not normal. Doesn't make it easier, but helps keep me grounded.

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited May 2011
    gb451 - I don't feel nauseous, but crave the kind of food that GmaFoley's nutritionist said we should be eating - lots of protein (specifically eggs, pistachios, steak) and more calories than usual. I'm hungry all the time. 
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    cb451: I've had some on-and-off nausea and had googled to see if that was a possible side effect (it is). It happens pretty much daily, usually in the morning although today it was early afternoon. It seems to pass after a few minutes, so I haven't made any issue of it at all.  Hope it doesn't get worse!

    Ton Lee: Ha! Love your sense of humor. Totally agree on how unscientific it is!

    They have a machine on me that basically forces me to hold my breath (they guide the process with instructions of "breath down...breath up...breath down slightly and hold" that gives me additional heads up. That said...once I swore it started microwaving me before the air shut off so I held my breath! Dumb ass me...if I held too soon that would put my lung higher, not lower! Duh! There are just such seemingly thin margins for error and they're tugging me around on a sheet, for God's sake. Of course, half the time I lift my ass without thinking since it seems like they're trying to tug the sheet out from under me. LOL

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  • isee
    isee Member Posts: 105
    edited May 2011

    Hi everyone,

    It sure has been helpful for me to be able to read everyone's posts on this thread. Lots of great advice etc. I'm all done my rads as of today and met with my oncologist this morning and decided not to do tamoxifen. Hope it is the right decision. He wouldn't give his opinion...just the stats on the risk of a reoccurrence with and without tamoxifen etc. The biggest concern for me seems to be the risk of blood clots and the fact that I have a tubular carcinoma which apparently rarely metastasises. He did say I would be closely monitored and if something came up it would be dealt with quickly. Anyone else not doing tamoxifen?

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