May 2011 Radiation

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  • juliet62
    juliet62 Member Posts: 3,412
    edited June 2011

    Hdangelbaby   hows the birthday celebrations going?       gmafoley glad things are improving,   7 done and $ 7  up in scratchoff tickets

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  • hdangelbaby
    hdangelbaby Member Posts: 731
    edited June 2011

    welll, used some of the bday money to get groceries, ( i love to cook and it was down to the nitty gritty before my b day)

    going to get a few new shirts for going back to work next week Money mouth

    and a very nice friend got me a gift certificate for an hour long massage...oooooooohhhhh

    so. my 2nd wedding anniversary is monday. i think i will get hubby an hour long massage and we can go together!!

    genius!!!!!!

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  • baf4292
    baf4292 Member Posts: 51
    edited June 2011

    GabbyCal - I am hungrier than usual too.  Wish I could say it is just for "good" food, but actually it is for all food.

    They did the simulation for my boosters recently and I can see that, unlike the regular radiation treatments, the boosters will be aiming straight down at my heart.  When I asked how they "block" the radiation from affecting heart/lungs, they said the booster rays basically don't go in as far and are less intense.  Hmmm...sounds a lot like they are saying "trust me" that they can control this stuff. 

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited June 2011

    baf4292 - Honestly, I'm hungry for all food too. Just sort of odd that I specifically crave things like eggs. I don't dislike eggs, but my normal egg consumption is limited to those I put in my chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

    Oh, yes the boosts! Straight down. Here's what they told me: For the whole breast, they use electrons which go right through you at the same intensity. For the boosts, they use protons and they can control the power of the protons and will set them to disperse before they get to the vital organs. I hope everyone's bringing their "A" game to the table when they do our setups! 

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

    Hey Girls! I was told about the protein too, so I found some stuff at the grocery store called Naked Protein fruit smoothies. It tastes good and has no sugar.

    Gma, am I too late to cheer you up? I have my 4th rad tomorrow and during them all, my Rad Tech was a little old man who looked suspiciously like Santa. So today, I go waltzing into the room and hop up on the table and a girl came in and positioned me and put the cloth over me. I usually close my eyes during the procedure and try to remember the words to songs from the 80's. Then I heard a deep voice ask, "Are you ready?" I opened my eyes and the most GORGEOUS young man was smiling down at me. I said. "oh CRAP!" before I knew my mouth was open. I don't want some young, good-looking guy seeing or touching my middle-aged boob that headed South years ago!! I just stared at him for a second and then lied and said 'Uh....I think I nodded off." He said it happens all the time, but I suspect he knew the truth. Why can't all rad techs be women? Or ugly?  Crap!

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  • juliet62
    juliet62 Member Posts: 3,412
    edited June 2011

    does the naked protein shakes have soy proteins?     re rad techs most of mine are male, but i know there are a mixture  of sexes in the control room!  and at this time  , so many people have seen my chest  in the past 3 months i'm past caring!

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2011

    baf4292-i recently asked about the boosts also, and they  said it is aimed at the "tumor bed" and it does not go as deep and she actually said it is a shorter length of time . Mine is also on my left side, but more on top towards my arm pit.

    I typically sleep on my left side, and have been trying so hard to surround myself with  pillows so i don't roll over on my left side, 4:30 this morning, i wake up ON MY LEFT SIDE and hurting!! GRRRR!!!

    rohanna-that was funny!!

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

    Tina,

    The force must be with you!  Lol  $23!!  That's the lotto as far as I'm concerned....my
    scratchers are WEAK.

    Oh and my RO is just out or residency in NY...and is a real cutey!!  I don't mind flashing ~ahem~ I
    mean showing him my breast-ises.  Buwhahahah

    Sagina,

    Nothings changed in my sleeping pattern.  I am already taking Tamoxifen...I chose to start during Rads because I was so high ER+....I'm telling you that so this will make more sense...I was having some problems initially with falling asleep while on it...so I take 500mg Magnesium Citrate at night and WHOA!  Not only keeps a girl "regular" but helps me sleep BETTER than Ambien.  So  I could tell you I don't sleep on that side, but I'm so out, I don't really know.

    BAF,

    I'm hungrier too.  MUCH.  And for everything as well.  Chemo was the same way...while most
    people were sick and couldn't eat...I was starving!!  Lol  It took mucho effort to keep from gaining weight during chemo...

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  • juliet62
    juliet62 Member Posts: 3,412
    edited June 2011

    tonlee glad you get some eye candy as well as the real candy

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

    helloooo.  My chemo onc that is dictating my treatment did not want me to start tamoxifen until done with rads and he gave me a reason but i cant remember what it was.  I will ask when i see them again.

    BTW no good looking rad techs for me. One is younger and puts up trivia questions every day on a white board and gets a little annoyed If I dont wanna play.  i am not good at trivia, not to mention I have enough going throug my head.  Good for them, though, in trying to make it fun every day.

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

    Carberry,

    My Onc said old studies suggested the Tamox made the cancer cells "sleep" so they feared Rads wasn't as effective...however, he said the newest studies show that starting before, during, or after is all about the same....

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  • juliet62
    juliet62 Member Posts: 3,412
    edited June 2011

    my onc said the same thing about tamox, wants me to start it 2 weeks p radiation

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  • ProudMom_Wife
    ProudMom_Wife Member Posts: 634
    edited June 2011

    My oncologist said the same thing, tamoxifen after radiation, that way they can more easily isolate if a SE if caused by the radiation or tamoxifen.  Since I am in chemo-pause (I am hoping permanently) there was not any concern for me to wait until after rads.

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

    Ladies I have all women, but 1 guy who is gorgeous, black hair, blue eyes, and adorable.  my grandsons are his age............I have 5 boosts and then I'm done.  the LE is a bitch. doesn't hurt' but got wrapped today by the specialist and can't do shit.  it goes from my fingers to my armpit for 2 weeks minimum.  right now I hate everybody. can just about type' can't f/n write and its my right hand..........................of course I don't hate you guys' just everyone else.

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  • achpurple
    achpurple Member Posts: 290
    edited June 2011

    So I got marked for my boosts today, sheer joy laying still for 45 minutes straight - and boy does that machine get really close.  I graduated from black marker to pretty blue!

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

    Ah man, Ducky...that sucks! I would hate that and everyone along with it, too! I hope the two weeks clears it up.

    13/30 done but zippo on my scratchers today. I'm pink and becoming more swollen and sore...I also woke up in pain laying on my bad boob last night ftblmom3! Youch.

    I'm having fatigue but also having some challenge with sleeping...that is a pain in the a**! I think it might be that I need to start sleeping on my back again (pillows on both sides to keep me there) or something. =(

    One more day then the WEEKEND...although a fricken weekend of RAIN in California! In June!  That's just wrong on so many levels!

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

    So sorry to hear about your lymphedema Ducky :( - I am so hoping I don't join you but they have brought up it might be a possibility with doing rads on the lymphnodes.

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2011

    hope you feel better soon Ducky!! It is amazing how we all manage to just keep on going!

    I am so glad tomorrow is friday-I am starting to feel really sore, swollen, last night a few spots that look like freckles popped up around my very sore nipple (sometimes i swear they are aiming at it just to piss me off!! LOL), i pointed the spots out to the tech, and got the usual nodding of the head and "yeah, that happens" look!!! GRRRR!!! i just hope its not the start of blisters, the tech didn't seem concerned, so i hope not. My underarm is really starting to annoy me too, itchy, sore, etc...blah, whine whine whine!! Oh wait, the fatigue-yes, it sucks!!  i physically work everyday, and by late afternoon i could just curl up in a ball and cry myself into a nap!!!

    TinaJ- it is going down into the 40's here tonight!! Brrr! Though we have had 2 days of beautiful warm but not humid weather!!

    Looking forward to getting tomorrow treatment over and having 2 days away from it!!

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  • bambi380
    bambi380 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2011

    Gals you are amazing in what you endure. This RAD stuff does make one testy though. There are too many of you to acknowledge but I did read all your blather. Thanks again for the insight!



    Greatly appreciate what you share.......

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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited June 2011

    Ducky - sorry to hear about the LE. How did you know you had it if it didn't hurt? Just see the swelling? I sure hope you nip it in the bud.

    Tinaj - Been there done that with the sleeping. I was born a tummy sleeper so sleep has been a challenge since this all started 6 months ago. I do the pillow-surround too. Best I've been able to come up with, but still just not the same. 

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

    Hi Ducky I feel your pain - I had swelling early on (old carpal tunnel that swells my whole arm) in rads but it seemed to get better - probably cause I forgot about it with everything else? lol...

    Tinaj i had the sleep problems too, if I didn't go to bed right when my body said that's it go to bed, then I had trouble sleeping.

    I spent the night last night with horrible coughing fits - took Nyquil at 4 am, emailed work at 4 am and told them to miss me today....I stayed home, slept, coughed, etc.  Went to rads at 4 pm, saw the RO he said I was "pushing air ok" in my lungs....I was more concerned about the pieces that seem to be coming up - he still doesn't think it is a SE....but his wrinkled forehead and squinty puzzled eyes told another story....

    So thank you chemopause for this new gift of cough and pee! lol.  gotta laugh don't we? 

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

    Juliet, I checked the label and some Naked shakes come with soy protein and some don't. Lots of good flavors but I don't think I'll be trying the green one. Just doesn't look appetizing. Today, my rad techs were both men and I didn't get the cutie. Whew!

    Ducky, I'm so sorry things have been so sh&%**y for you. I'm sending you hugs and positive thoughts. At least tomorrow is Friday, thank God! Looking forward to being away from the Boob Discombobulator!

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  • juliet62
    juliet62 Member Posts: 3,412
    edited June 2011

     i want a cutie!   the machine was broke  yesterday so only a 3 day week for me!   thanks rohanna ,will have to read the labels, estrogen was 99%  fav , so trying to avoid soy,     ducky sending you hugs

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  • carberry
    carberry Member Posts: 1,153
    edited June 2011
    I am using my ativan to help me sleep, but am almost out   Dont know how long the onc will prescribe this for me, they will think I am turning into a drug addict. really wondering when my sleep will return to normal, God knows with all the spring chores and outside work I should be exhausted.  Well instead of whine, whine, whine,   I am gonna wine, wine, wine this weekend and try to forget this stuff! Everyone have a great weekend!Cool
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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited June 2011

    Hello everyone - just had my 11th treatment and I am feeling the fatigue a bit. I have 20 more to go. The nurses told me to be sure and rest when you feel the fatigue coming on. I am hyper so I have to slow it down and give it to a nap. Also, she said whatever you do DONT lose weight if you can help it. Not a good time to be on a diet. I wondered why they weighed me every week. Feeling like I am at Weight Watchers. Everything has to get rearranged if you do lose more than a pound. Any of you guys scheduled for a bone scan at the end of your treatment? diane

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  • ftblmom3
    ftblmom3 Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2011

    I am going for treatment #14 today. I am feeling fatigue soooo bad today. Like didn't want to get out of bed, but had to go to work and it took me forever, actually started crying at one point i am just so tired. I physicallty work cleaning houses, and had a really long day yesterday, so i am sure that is some of it. I am just worried about getting  through the next couple weeks. I am going to really try to just do a lot of nothing this weekend, even though there are so many things i need to do around my house. It is just all a bit overwhelming sometimes. gosh i sound like a downer today! Sorry for that.

    someone tell me something to make me laugh!

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  • slcst12
    slcst12 Member Posts: 161
    edited June 2011

    Hi ladies!

    Rohanna: I'm LOL at your hunky guy story:)

    I'm 8 of 33 today. and I won a whopping $4 bucks on today's scratch off ticket!

    Ducky:
    I hope you are feeling better soon!!

    Question for group:
    Does your center do an x-ray every week "just to make sure the setup is accurate"?
    I don't like this; I don't want more xRays every week, that's like 6 additional xrays. Grrr...

    Have a great weekend ladies!

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

    slcst12, My center doesn't do the weekly x-ray. They just shove me around until the red laser lights line up with my tats. Oh, and I got Rad tech-McDreamy today. I feel like I'm on a reality TV show when he shows up because normal people aren't that gorgeous.

    ftblmom3 and ducky, I hope the weekend is better for you. The blues can get really deep when all this falls on our heads. I think we should join carberry and wine, wine, wine this weekend. Then we should block our numbers and prank call people. "Is your refrigerator running?....." 

    (((HUGS)))

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  • JulieH
    JulieH Member Posts: 351
    edited June 2011

    sclst: I'm getting the x-rays every week, too.  Not thrilled about it . . .

     Had 11 of 33 today -- 1/3 down.  My breast hurts pretty much all the time; not the skin, but "inside" and around the nipple.  The skin is a little pink, too, but otherwise not too bad.  The doctor has told me to be sure to use the aquaphor every night.  Not a lot, though.  She said if it hasn't absorbed mostly by the time I get up in the morning, I'm using too much.  That's fine with me, since it's pretty much like rubbing vaseline all over me.  I'm definitely not a fan of the stuff. Tongue out

    I am actually finding that I sleep better on the nights I've had the rads.  Don't know why, unless it's the fatigue setting in. 

    Hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoys two days away from the radiation beam.

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

    I am officially half way since I declined the boosts! 

    I am ok as of right this second, but came home afterward and planted more flowers, used sunscreen but missed the spot right between my breasts....WHOA!  IT's so red now and gonna hurt tomorrow!  Ugh.

    I'm tired too.  I think Rads fatigue is 1000 times worse than chemo fatigue....yesterday it took everything I had to just get out of bed....but I found the cure...today started much the same way...but instead of sitting down for coffee I literally pulled my tired body onto the crosstrainer.  60 minutes later I was buzzing with energy that hasn't stopped all day!! WOOT.

    That whole exercise when you are most tired mantra really is true....I've bore it out being hypothyroid, through chemo, and now with rads.....Yesterday was a rare rest day for me and I was the most tired yet....

    Have a great weekend everyone!

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