May 2011 Radiation

It sounds like we're ALL ready for the week-end!

ftblmom and ducky - you both deserve a totally "you" weekend. Hope you have a chance to sleep-in and chill-out.

Edwards750 - interesting about needing to maintain the same weight through treatment. Last week, the schedule got a little mixed up and I almost left without my weekly weigh-in.

I gained 2 pounds as of week #5 of 8. It's Tinaj's "fault".  After she posted how we need lots of protein to rebuild the good cells, I took that as permission to bulk up my portion sizes on protein.

I'm scheduled for a bone scan after rads. The reason is to get a baseline of where I am at the start of Anastrozole, which I actually started the same time I started rads. BTW - I asked my MO if I should just go ahead and do it during rads and he said better to wait.

slclst12 - at my center they do an x-ray at every 5th treatment - I think it's important to be sure the measurements are accurate. I wouldn't want them zapping the wrong place.

Sleep well and charge-up your energy this week-end!

So, does anyone know if they delay radiation if your Neutrophil count is too low, along with WBC?   Do they have you take a Neulasta or the other shot to boost your counts?

I have had 14/25 rads so far.  I honestly feel great, skin is doing fine, have energy, but my counts have gone down.  My RO's office called me late this afternoon with my latest lab results.  I told them I am fine.  In fact went to see the Plastic Surgeon, and my stats were great.  

They told me that I need to isolate myself because my counts are so low that I am really at risk of getting an infection.  I am suppose to monitor my temperature now.  Then on Monday go in for more blood work, after getting zapped again of course.

This bites!!!  My oldest is graduating from HS next week.  We have end of the year stuff going on this weekend and next week including award ceremonies and graduation.  I won't miss it out of fear of catching something.  Anyone know how to build up blood counts naturally?

Rohanna! I just saw your post to me from yesterday...I understand the feeling - problem with me is the guys are all good looking and I have one lady tech that is talking me through the rads now since I have had some trouble with the being pinned down process.... You made me laugh so hard...thank you so much for sharing that story...!!!

4 treatments and I'm pink and the doc gave me some new cream samples - called Xclair - He wants me to use it this weekend and if there is no reactions from it, he is going to give me more... They are still concerned it is a start of an infection - but no fever - just the breast is pink and warm... Told me to walk around my house with no top on... We have a friend and her 15 yr old daughter living with us... that would be a great way to freak them out LOL.. Then the RO tells me to lock myself in the room topless with a fan on it... I don't know about this... I was hoping the pink wouldn't start for another week or so :P I'm one of the lucky ones.

Hi Ladies thanks for all your good thoughts. .................I handled this all so well..........now it is all starting to get to me. The LE, and now I was told  ;yesterday 3 more boosts............Originallly they told me 33 now they changed it to 36,  that was a shock......never sleep late but today didn't want to get out of bed......got up drank coffee and started typing to you guys and kept making errors and started bawling my eyes out ................stupid huh...........I guess its all piling up now and I'm acting like an ass.  Just wore out all my "big girl" panties I guess.

Sagina girlfriend guess we"re not finishing together. I'll be thinking about you on thursday.

Gabby teh LE begins with swelling.  I read up on it before my surgery, so I was aware that it could happen, and asked my RO about it and she said " you do look swollen, sent me to an LE  specialist and the rest is history.  Best that you catch it very early, which I did.  But it is for life.  Once they get the swelling down I will go into a Compression garment for my arm.  Now this wrap has to be changed 2 times a day, and it is 4 procedures and you have to get it right, or it doesn"t work and all the wrapping was for naught. Oh well of course I would be in the 20-30% who get this from node removal.

Forgot ladies one good thing.  Yesterday I found out my oncotype was "8", so I guess I should stop my whining, and go out and buy some more "big girl" panties...................

HEY MAYBE I'LL BUY A THONG in 7 different colors.  Good  Lord that is a scary thought at my age with my 76 year old ass..

Ducky~I see the RO on Tuesday, my last day, if he says three more, I'd start crying too!  I want to HEAL now.  I had chemo first then the lumpectomy and about a five week window before rads and I remember how good I felt then - working all day, volunteering in the evenings, sleeping good....maybe that's what makes this so emotionally draining sometimes, we know now what it is to feel sick with chemo, so the good is really good, then rads just gets tiring....by the way you so remind me of the Maxine Greeting Cards - and I love Maxine cards!  You should write for them...the Maxine you can kick cancers ass card line!

Proud_Mom:  from the Livestrong.com website:

"Healthy, well-balanced diets ensure that you're getting the proper vitamins and nutrients for your immune system. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish are all rich in vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, so make sure to get at least your daily allowance of each. Oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, nuts, spinach (and other green, leafy vegetables), avocado, tomatoes, carrots, apricots and cold-water fish are some of the most beneficial to your immune system."

and

"Increase your intake of zinc. While a well-balanced diet can go a long way toward boosting the health of your white blood cells, zinc actually stimulates their production. Try to get anywhere between 15 and 25 mg each day. Many cereals are fortified with this mineral, but you can also find it naturally in beef, legumes, turkey and crab."

Plus exercise and rest.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/29611-boost-white-blood-cell-count/#ixzz1OK3payRN

I know, I was surprised when my MO said that rads could lower our counts.  I thought I was out of the woods after my last chemo and Neulasta shot.  Guess not entirely . . .

Hi all! I am now have 17 treatments out of my 38 done! My RO told me yesterday~~ the treatments are going to be more intense now, esp. my last week~~ I sometimes feel like, I've been run over by a mack truck~~but I keep going~~I use a prescription cream when it stings more and the Gold Bond cream~~

I am participating in my first "Relay for Life" in July~~I've been walking alot to get ready~~I still haven't lost weight, but I'm still trying. My daughters are doing it with me~~so I am excited about it!

Gabby,

I started Tamox before Rads....the latest studies show that there is no difference between starting before, during, or after.

Ok..I HAVE A QUESTION.

I had a MX with TE.  My TE incision was open all through chemo, revision after chemo, and it closed then started rads....

GUESS WHAT??

Last week I noticed little red dots on the incision line...today after showering I realized they're HOLES.....two of them, right on the incision line.

I kinda expected this to happen....but was hoping it wouldn't because I'll likely lose my TE because of it.....

That's bad enough, but knowing I have 14 more Rads on a wound that's opening......I'm not too keen on that idea....anyone have anything similar?

Gma, I whined to my daughter about the cute rad tech and she said, "Gee, Mom, at least something good happened today. You got free eye candy." So on Friday, she went with me and YEP! I got rad tech McDreamy again! When he walked into the waiting room, her eyes got as big as frisbees and I thought "You know what? This is a perc. Thank you, Lord!" Now I'm just going to lie back and enjoy the scenery! From the mouths of babes, right?

I've had 4 treatment too and my breast is hot and bright pink. I'm getting little dark spots near my incision too. I've started putting neosporin on my scar first and then the Aquaphor. Let me know how the Xclair works for you. I need to ask for some. I bought some of those camis with the built-in bra and they've been a lifesaver especially since our temps. have been 100 degrees for the last two days. Hope your treatments go well. We seem to be on the same schedule, so we can compare notes. And remember when I said I close my eyes during treatment and try to remember the words to songs? In honor of you, next week I'm gonna try to remember the words to "The Streak." (((HUGS)))

I have alot of black spots on my skin. I also notice alot of little "freckles and moles" as well. My RO always says it's supposed to look like this, but, Wow!

Question? Does the feeling ever come back after having nodes removed? Mine was done the last part of March and it still feels like I've been laying on it too long. Sometimes it's hard to grip a pen, to write.

Hi  All...Started Rads in May and am down to last 4.  Initially I was overwhelmed with the thought of 31 treatments, now find it went really fast.  My armpit is the the only area that is irritated and blistered.  I also found that using Aquaphor really helped.  Also never wiped radiated area with towel only blotted after shower.  Used vitamin E oil  on mornings I had to go to work, found it soaks into skin and isnt so greasy. 

MaggieMc - Oh, yes! I totally would have lost it at the TSA over that. Bad enough to be patted down in your current delicate state, but the rummaging through the carryon would just be the last straw. They always say never to let your bag out of your sight, but whenever I get sent to the scanner my bag and I are totally separated. Anyone could pick up my bag and walk off with it. I hope your visit with your new grandson was just a delight and made up for the TSA trauma.

It's interesting how each MO has their own favorite lotions and creams. You're the first I've heard to be told to use Noxema, but it makes total sense. I love that stuff. 

Thanks GabbyCal and rohanna. I have a card from my surgeon about the knee, but the eight times I have been at an airport in the past year, no one has wanted to look at it. The only time it really bothered me so much that I started to cry was when I saw them going through my bag, removing everything. Fortunately, I always put my "personal" belongings in clear ziploc bags, because I don't want my undies on display or manhandled by TSA even if I am! Of course I also think going through cancer has made me more emotional. This was just the latest trigger.

Anyway, I am grateful for these boards if not TSA.

It is 5 something in the morning. Can't sleep because my radiated chest is itchy, plus I have a rash on my right cheek (not the cheek on my face!) at first I thought it was just a pimple or a bug bite, but in the middle of the night my mind has wandered and now I have started thinking that it is an infection. I see my RO tomorrow. Do I offer to show him my derriere and ask his opinion? Do I call my dermatologist instead and have to wait a week to get in to see him? Or do I just keep looking online at pictures of rashes and letting my mind wander to the worst case scenario? Ok sometime later on today I will read this back and wonder why I shared this....

MaggieMc - As to the new rash, I'd take a multi-faceted approach - call your dermatologist and get first available appointment (tell them you're in radiation), when you go for your treatment today, tell the techs about it and see if you can talk to a nurse today, talk to your RO tomorrow.

Where I go, I see the RO once a week, but can talk to one of his nurses any time I want and have taken advantage of that option more than once.

I've got the itchy rash on my chest going too. Yesterday, the skin on my sunburned nipple peeled off. Not a fun feeling. Any suggestions? (You can be sure I'll be talking to the nurse about that when I go to rads today.) 

Gabby, I'm not sure where to go for the PM.

I couldn't get an appt. With my PCP till tomorrow, so I went to CentraCare. I have used them before and they are operated by Florida Hospital where I go for treatment. Anyway ,of all the things I thought this rash could be...staph infection, MRSA...you know worse case scenario, I was floored by the diagnosis. Shingles! I had a Shingles shot a few years ago, because I definitely never wanted to get THAT. I had read that it could be a SE of cancer treatment, and have a friend who had bone cancer and she got it. But I thought, well, thank goodness I don't have to worry about that! Wrong. Just like all those faithful annual mammograms I had so I wouldn't get breast cancer (also nursed my three babies), healthy lifestyle..yada, yada. I think at this point I might as well sign up for skydiving and live on chocolate, but I digress. I picked up my prescription ($138) and need to take 3 enormous pills for 7 days. At least I went in right away before it got worse. Cancer treatment side effects never cease to amaze me. I thought I had covered every possible SE during chemo, baldness actually being the one that caused me the least stress, but it is like the gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and....