May 2011 Radiation

rohanna, the plot is okay by me!! I need 4 days to rest my burns. Glad you got a 4 day weekend too!

Well off to work on a big sale day at JoAnn Fabrics - 2nd day back to work - with the restriction not to lift anything over 10 lbs with my right arm LOL. Not sure what I'm going to be able to do except cashier (which I hate doing)... Fun Fun.

GmaFoley - hope you find something lightweight you enjoy - maybe it's time to reorganize the pattern drawers and ribbons 

Friends with the Itchy Rash -  there was a chart in a magazine I came across that shows differences between Tylenol, Asprin, Motrin, etc. It caught my eye that Asprin provides relief from "minor itching". I feel like my itching is major, but started taking Asprin in hopes to maybe make it less so. Too soon to tell.

Carberry,

Yes...can't wait for the sickness to take a summer break

Bambi,

I take 5000mcg of Biotin and use minoxidil (for women) for my hair.  I am 9 weeks out and have full coverage, though its much darker than it was before...and my eyebrows are growing in blond on one side, brown on the other!  It reminds me of the Dalmatian Lady!

But I bet ya didn't wanna look like her did ya?  lol

Lol

I enjoyed a beautiful day watching one of my little guys play in a soccer tournament.  He won both games and is possibly headed to the finals, so that's always fun. My DH is with my other DS in a different city for a baseball tournament.  I sported a nice little spaghetti strap cami (braless) and  felt like I looked pretty darn good.  I have to say I'm loving my implants and this braless thing -ONE perk of BC, finally!  I sunscreened up the radiation side and used tanning lotion everywhere else.  LOL  I'll admit it.  I'm a sun worshiper and I dream of retiring to a place where the sun shines everyday.  Of course, I'm still 20 years from retirement, but I can dream, right? 

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Tammy

Hi everyone!

Hope you are all enjoying the 3 day weekend and time off from the spark-o-nator (that's what I mentally call the rads machine...) Hey...whatever helps me get through the day:)

On the scractch-offs:
Of the 5 I've scratched off so far, two were "winners" as in "you have won a free ticket!"

On the breathing:
My RO told me to breathe normally too...I think this is quite hokey...given all the precise and specific measurements on the instruments / table. I finally said something to the RO about it, to the effect of "what's up with this? like...how accurate is this crap really?"
He totally agreed that it's imprecise and admitted that they irradiate the "prostate guys and they move around all the time..."
He went on to say that most people gripe about heart problems and blame rads, but it's really the adriamycin that knocks the heart back. (I actually agree with this--see my earlier post about being concerned with the adriamycin--it's a derivative of mustard gas for crying out loud.)

On the tamoxifen and oncotypes:
I can't answer these, I'm triple negative, so I don't get tamoxifen and the Oncotype testing/scores don't work on me either.  It's a little like flying blind.

On the skin / bra:
I haven't noticed anything unusual yet (have completed only 5/33 so far) and am still wearing my bra and only putting on some eucrin cream at night. I did notice that my scar from port removal is a bit pink, but otherwise i'm good...

On the weekend:
I hope everyone has a great one!  We were able to fit in canoeing, 2 hikes, our local farmers market, some outlet mall shopping and the Texas Roadhouse for dinner this weekend so far (and it's only Sat!!!)

Happy B-Day to HDangleBaby!

I Am retired. In December when I found out I had to do chemo my onc said no more teaching until it is over. He did not want me around all those germ carrying kids. So in one weekend my teaching career ended. I am here to tell you retirement is not all it is cracked up to be. Of course mine has consisted of chemo, doctor's appointments and RADs. When this is all over I may be able to enjoy retirement. But right now I would quickly take the old life in the classroom back. I do not know how you gals keep working through this fight. As an 8th grade science teacher in the city I could not have done it.

hdanglebaby-hope your having a wondeful birthday!      tonlee-hows your son today?    to everybody ,hope your enjoying your long weekend

Hey ladies.  Whole breast radiation finished 28/28; 1/8 boosts done.  I too have the itchy rash on my breast bone.  RO says this is typical where the skin is the thinest.  She told me to take antihistamines; they will help with the itchiness as well as the skin redness.  As far as the erect nipple; count me in on that as well.  It's painful sometimes.  My skin is maroon (like many others) with 2 burned areas--under my breast and underarm.  The fatigue still present.  I manage throughout the work week but sleep all weekend.  Not much fun on a holiday weekend but it could be so much worse.  Have a wonderful, restful, healing weekend ladies.   

rdn - thanks for sharing that your RO recommends antihistamines for the itching. I have exactly zero "padding" on my chest where the rash is, so it is indeed where the skin is the thinest. 

Congratulations on finishing the whole breast radiation. I have four to go then start eight boosts after that. I'm told the area with the rash won't be hit during the boosts. If that's the case for you, relief should be right around the corner.

vhsea...you are very sweet.  I am 2/3 done with rads and the only thing I wanted is some soft cotton shirts to wear at night.  The breast gets so raw, and something soft feels good.  Radiation is something you get through, and move on.  Nothing to be afraid of.  Good luck on your MX, and keep up the great friendship.

vhshea - I double the soft t-shirts for your friend. I wear them day and night (no bra). The creams leave this prickly residue on the inside so lots of laundry to keep them comfortable. Some women buy men's Hanes underwear. I've been using Merona brand from the women's department at Target.

Lots of ladies on this thread bought lottery tickets. Number of tickets bought was number of radiation treatments they are scheduled to have. So everyday they get to scratch off a ticket. 

Any other fun "reward" of something she likes would be appreciated.

About half-way through, the whole things starts to wear you down. It feels like it's just never going to end and that's when the skin irritation kicks in. So, if you can think of a way to help her recognize the half-way mark, I think that would be appreciated.

BTW - I find people who do weekly countdowns annoying. Hey, you're 10% done! Hey, your 25% done!!! This is meaningless because the hard part comes in the second half of treatment. 

You're very kind to think of your friend. I'm hoping your MX on 6/8 and your recovery go smoothly.