May 2011 Radiation

GmaFoley, I totally understand the nervousness and the tears. In fact, the second day in my eyes were teary and the next thing you know they are asking me if I would feel better talking to a social worker!  I swear they ask me that even if I am in a good mood! I just always must look sad! Anyways, the first few times on the table I wasn't worried about crying, I worried that I suddenly felt very nauseas and felt like I was going to throw up! I told the girl I was feeling sick and she didn't even blink an eye- she was like, "just a few more minutes."  (I have to lay on my stomach for treatment) I did make it through, but it happened to me the next day too! I kept telling myself mind over matter and somehow I made it through!

alley1423 - So sorry you have to deal with this again.  Before you make any decisions learn about all your options.  Try to get different opinions from at least two medical oncologists, two radiation oncologists and two good plastic surgeons.

A friend of mine went through radiation treatments 3 years after her reconstruction due to a recurrance. She had minor issues with her silicone implant, told me it was nothing like she feared and decided to not even bother with having anything done with her implant because the effect of radiation on her implant was so minor in her instance.  

Good luck.  Sending {{{HUGS}}} 

Hi Ducky - Glad to hear you're on the home stretch of this. I'm curious - what are Portals? I haven't heard that term?

I'm one day behind you in treatments and having similar skin reactions. I've got the itchy rash with tiny blisters on my chest above my breast. I have the setup for boosts today, then boosts start next week Monday. For me, the itching is the worst part. One night last week I was washing dishes and absent-mindedly scratched. I caught myself right away, but had scratched open one of the little blisters. When I got in the shower the next morning, it stung when the water hit it. That sure sent a message: don't scratch that itch!

Gabby............The way they explained Simulation before they did that is this way................................during the first 28 Rads they were treating the "whole breast", now the Simulation is being done for the "5 boosts"...................which happens at the end of whole breast treatment................my very sweet tech told me they would be going in to right where the tumor was located with the final 5 boosts................I was also told that I could have some "skin problems".............for up to 2 weeks after my final treatments..................after I come back today I will post and let you know what they Portal Films consisted of...............

Gma- I cried through the simulation and brought my best friend for round 1. I sang Sound of Music and I Will Survive throughout the first week. I don't cry now as the process has become routine. That part will get easier.

I finished 12/33 today. My skin is ok, but I feel very sore under my arm pit. Is the only remedy the various skin lotions we've discussed? How do they deal with pain? I know this gets worse and I am afraid of more under the skin pain. My friend uses vanilla on all burns (non-radiation). Anyone heard of this? Scares me....

Hello all.  I hope you don't mind me lurking here.  I've been reading for a while.  I have 6 more Taxols to go (5 after tomorrow) and then will start radiation at the end of July.  I, like many with BC, am having problems with major anxiety.  Taxol has been so easy on me (after A/C nearly killed me) that I am now freaking out about the next phase - radiation.  So I have been trying to read up on it to easy my anxiety.  I work full time and am worried about the fatigue that comes near the end of radiation.  I need to work and have just about exhausted all of my vacation and sick time for 2011.  For those of you who are nearing the end of radiation this week, can you give me an idea of what I am in for?  I have visions of not being able to get out of bed (like with A/C) - is it that bad or will I be able to work and then nap after work if needed?  The worst part of this BC for me has been the roller coaster of emotions and the financial strain that comes with not working.  I've made it this far and am freaking out about the next phase! 

MamaV~ I've worked full time in an office through rads.  I'm in my last week, and the fatigue for me is the worst in the mornings.  I"m not feeling sick like I did through chemo though.  This is more uncomfortable and a pain in the ass but manageable.  I bought a cami that zipped up in front and went "braless" almost from the beginning, I think that helped.

I scheduled by rads last thing in afternoon so I could go home and nap if needed.  The fatigue is like when you have a really busy day and you go home and sit down and fall asleep in the chair.  When I wake up from a nap I don't feel groggy at all.

Make sure to get to bed at a decent hour, I don't and I think that's why the fatigue is so bad in the mornings.  I good after I get moving.

Gmafoley~perhaps you can hang on to that above your head instead of the ring or bar?

Hang out here anytime you want - any discussion that helps is the one you need to be in.  I just finished my 12th out of 20 this morning and so far I notice nothing.  I don't want to jinx myself for saying that, and my RO says that I will before it's over.  You can do this!  

Sagina,

I'm jealous!!  You're almost done....wish I was close. 

Carberry,

It's not realistic to expect us to stay inside.  I bought spray on SPF so I spritz and then I'm outside...the only real concession I've made (I always wore SPF before) is wearing a short sleeve shirt...I usually wear a tank....THAT is about killing me because I don't like feeling sleeves under my arm...lol

My frankenboob is getting sore and tight. 

Just as an aside...anyone with rads to the right side have severe pain just beneath the ribcage?  I actually don't think its rads (doesn't come close to that area)...it feels like an internal organ because its in the front and back as well as the side...but for the last 4 days it hurts "deep" inside....I won't even think the "M" word...

Unless the pain is so bad I need an ambulance ... non of my Drs will order any type scan....I've never had a PET or CT.....

The whole radiation thing is turning me into a complete b@#&!.  Yesterday, I left work early (as always, which is a pain in the butt when you're the principal) only to arrive at the RO's office and be told that one of  the machines was broken.  OK.  I asked how long it might be and I was told that there was no way to know.  There are two machines where I go for treatment and I just assumed that they would rotate us all into the working machine.  Well . . . after waiting for almost 90 minutes I was then told that I should go home because I can only be treated on Machine #2 (the broken one).  I later come to find out that the machine had been broken since 2PM, at least an hour before my appointment time.  Could they not have called me and told me to not to come in?  I mean I've filled out piles of paperwork with my home number, work number, cell number - it's not like they don't know how to get a hold of me!  I find this frustrating.  I'm trying to go about living my life and it seems as if my time is of no concern to anyone at this office.  So now one more stinking day gets tacked on to the end, putting my final day of tx on Friday July 8th.  I swear if I have to go another week into July I'm going to scream at someone!!!

#6/33 today with no ill effects so far

Tammy

gmafoley - I experienced a sensation of tightness right after the first treatment and my RO told me it WASN'T my imagination.  I also turned pink that night and have every night thereafter.  Somehow my body recovers overnight and I wake up the next morning with normal sensations and skin tone.   

One more whole breast treatment tomorrow, and then 5 boosts and I am done.........................Breast looks exceptionally good..............I have  a rash which is itchy, and has this tiny blister on a couple, but is really nothing....................I did great..........even my RO was shocked .  She kept calling me her blue eyed, blonde, and expected me to have some problems, but it never happened.......................don't misunderstand it can be a little pink, discolored, but nothing like I have read here........................so fear not ladies........there is always the possibilty that you could have the same result.

yes ..............27 of 33 done...............

Sagina........................were almost there "girlfriend"..............yahoo.......................

12/33 and won $3 on a scratcher today!  That's $23 on my $30 investment.

Holy cow! I'd be freaked if the machine broke down all the time, particularly while I'm ON THE TABLE! lol

edwards750: There isn't a test that will confirm it's working that I'm aware of. I believe radiation damages the cells in the field, and healthy cells can recover while cancer cells cannot. Hence the need to eat high protein and take care of yourself as well as why the fatigue sets in...your body is constantly working to heal itself.  They do xrays weekly to confirm the radiation field is hitting where it should.

When I quizzed the substitute RO this week (my guy is on vacation) on why my plan had changed after the first week xrays, he said that there's lots of reasons such as you relax more or (and this was fascinating) large breasts that tend not to always settle the same way when you're on your back (geez...I'm not THAT big and I have dense breasts so they don't slide under my arms or anything!), swelling in the breast, etc.

BTW...now that I've met two ROs I have to wonder if they are all older, dry, professor-types or if that's just the two guys at my center?

I have graduated to the lotion with lidocaine.... although it's still not as bad as i thought it would be by middle of week 4

lucky?

maybe... hopefully!!!

TonLee ~ do you sleep on that side?  I had some weird pain on my side until i started to sleep on my back~ cause of the rads burns.

ducky~ yes we are almost done -  I am beyond pink though, I am more like red to maroon.

TinaJ~ you'd be amazed at the acrobatics my boob does on that table! lol

Hdangelbaby~ I'm using the lidocaine cream at night, but it sure stinks for a sec before working!

Tammy~ I think the whole staff should get a big fat detention!