JUNE 2011 RADS

Barb58:  Thank you for your prayers.  I think your prayers helped.  I got my first treatment four hrs. ago and it was a breeze.  The mold didn't feel nearly as bad as it did on Friday and it was a lot quicker.  Maybe five minutes that I had to hold my arm up in the mold.   So it was much better than how I felt on Friday.  Thank you all for your support and suggestions.  I'm glad that I went ahead with the treatment.  One down and 34 to go (I think).  I really need to ask a lot more questions to my RO.  When I had my first consultation with my RO I was so glad to move ahead with my treatment after agonizing on what the best treatment is for me.  Chemo or no chemo, that once I made my decision of not doing chemo and going with Zoladex, Tamoxifen, and radiation that when I met with my RO I didn't ask many questions and he didn't tell me much either now that I'm thinking more clearly about this.  So I'll ask much more on my next visit with RO. 

 Did all your ROs tell you not to put on lotion, deodorant, no shaving?  Also, about what kind of creams and lotions to put on after treatment?  My RO didn't tell me any of this yet and I would think that he should've told me this before I my first treatment.

Barb58:  it looks like we have similar diagnosis.  What kind of treatment are you having? If you don't mind me asking.  I was wondering if you're doing Zoladex as well.

Ohhh I know exactly what u mean had double masectomy, no hair, tired and still a bit sore from surgery, no eyelashes, brows... Sometimes I can't even stand looking at me... I still have ovaries to be removed, I'm 32 no kids, and now motherhood is out of the question...I feel so mutilated at times, but then I give myself a boost, I'm very strong to be able to endure all this..we should be proud of ourselves u know!! Yes Its hard but we will get through this and when do, we will amaze our selves to say wow we did it....and we can encourage others

"Raw" is the word I've most often used to describe how I feel, both literally and figuratively.  No one in my real life understands.  Thanks so much to all of my virtual sisters for the encouragement.  Your words are experienced-based, and therefore not mere aphorisms.

Coni: they do xrays every week because they need to make sure they are hitting the right place... Last week they had to take them twice because of my reshape of the boob and armpit... As you relax more you sometimes don't line up correctly....so this is their double check once a week...If you do need adjustment they do it then and recheck you at the end of the week... Don't worry about it - it is actually a good thing...

This may be a stupid question but is it possible to have a reaction under the opposite side from the treatment side.  My right side is my treatment side but I have a large red pimple like thing under my left breast.  Don't know how long it may have been there.  I have those ugly skin tags in that area also and I may have felt it while drying off after my shower but it didn't hurt until today.  I saw the RO yesterday and she didn't say anything about it.  I will quiz my techs today and see if they can get a better look at it that I can in my bathroom mirror.  Of course it is right where my bra band goes so it will rub until I get home from rads.  Heck, I may just take the darn bra off in the car for the drive home.  My grandmother is probably rolling over in her grave at the thought of someone being outside their own bedroom without proper undergarments.  LOL

Maybe,

I am a combo. I had a few tattoos, but had a little meltdown, so they did marks and tape and now, with the boosts, I have a giant blue circle on the side of my poor boob.  Yup, It melts as I move the cream around it, and my bras now are all inked up on the inside.  I bought new wireless bras for these last weeks, so I'm hoping that when all of this is over, I can just throw them out.  Luckily, I don't have much of a night-life, so I don't have to show anyone my Pollack! 

is any one getting nauseous??

I also get X rays  every 5 treatments ,i wear tank tops with the bra inside them and I cant put any thing one that side 4 hours before. I was told to start using my cream the first day and they game me what i had to use. I do have to have Tamoxifen for the 5 years but i don't start till after RADS is over and I am a little worried about that.Well hope every one had a great day  

Mammadog : I haven't heard of having issues on the opposite side of the treatment side... but I'm on 20/28 today and my skin tags on my treatment side are starting to peel off... one positive note I think - the skin tags bug me to death.... I'm glad to be rid of them.. PA mentioned something to me today for the irritation under the breast (just starting to turn red) He told me to get some "Dumboro" - you have to ask the pharmisist for it, its behind the counter... It is a salve you make up and put it on a washcloth or gauze and place it under your breast - its supposed to take the stink out of the burn- said I could use it on the burning parts... haven't gotten it yet but sounds interesting. OH and I've been using a tank with a shelf bra since week 2 - they have been awesome and comfy...

Coni - As ducky said, I too have had waves of nausea - first thing in the morning and about an hour after rad treatment - RO actually gave me a few compazine to have on hand incase its gotten any worse... also said to have crackers by my bed to eat... I have been ok now - it was my 2nd and 3rd week when I was bad... I only took one of the compazine through it - nothing I couldn't handle with some yogurt or crackers.

Maybe - the colors represent what is being hit by a certain beam... I asked for a copy of their plan and it was very interesting.. each beam will hit a certain area and the different colors tell them which beam hits where...they took pictures of them on my set up so they could calculate the machine...  as of this week, I can see the lines that they marked me up with (nice grey/pink area - kinda interesting to actually see the outlines on your body) I am on week 5.........Maybe I am sorry you are bummed..those power outages are a real bummer...I have noticed up days and down days - I seem to be down too... I find it is harder on the days I'm feeling the rad tired and when there is no sunshine outside... but just count one step and a time...one day at a time.... You will be done before you know it...

It's funny I saw my rad doc and told her I'm nauseous is always first thing in the morning and after rad she was like no is not rad...not too happy with at all I'm on my third week and this is the first time see her for literally 5 min...I have had 11 x rays in the 4 days on I just had another one today... She was like yeah is because they need to make sure everything is lining up...I don't know I'm not happy with her at all....I also told her I'm having a hard time sleeping she told me too my fam doc and the same for nausea... Ggrrrr I'm so mad

Hello ladies.  Back from a short, but wonderful vacation with DH. Was so nice to have 3 days off from rads.  I have one hell of a red, sore boob. Today was only my 15/34 treatment, I can't even imagine how this is going to look or feel towards the end.  Kind of scary.

Hobokenmom-I am happy to hear your treatment was not to painful.  I had a spinal fusion last October, therefore, have neck and shoulder pain all the time.  As soon as I put my arm up in the position for rads, my arm, hand and fingers go numb.  I too, count the seconds, once I know the machine is on.  It seems to help me get through.

Sounds like everyone is doing OK.  I couldn't wait to get home and back on my computer.  I don't know how I would have gotten through all this madness without the help of all the wonderful woman on this site.  Thank you all

Hey, Ladies. I'm 21/36 and I can tell you what my experience has been and hope it helps. I was so scared when I started that I was numb. But after the 2nd week it got to be routine. I keep 100% aloe gel in my fridge, and I take a small container of it with me to rads. After my treatment, I go into the changing room and aloe my breast. The coolness is so soothing. I wear a cotton sports bra that is a size too big and take it off when I get home. Then I use the Aquaphor at night and wear a really loose cotton nightshirt. I have to soak the night shirts in a bucket of warm water and Dawn to get the Aquaphor out. I keep ginger ale around for nausea, but that seems to be lessening. Expect to be tired and sleepy after the 3rd week, which seemed to be the weepy week for me. I eat a lot more protein now and drink those vegetable/fruit drinks. I get x-rays after every 5th treatment to see if there has been swelling, weight loss or anything else that may have made a difference in the rad field. I see my RO every Wed. for about 45 seconds to let him check my progress. He doesn't like to answer a lot of questions, so I grill his nurse who is really nice.

My onc put me on Femara at the same time I started rads, but I had to stop them last week because the joint pains were so bad I could hardly walk. I see him on Friday and he may switch me to Arimidex. I'm also going to ask him for something to help me sleep. I use Melatonin but it doesn't always work.

The last of my 7 treatments will be boosts. I asked today and they said that those rays will be aimed at exactly where the tumor was instead of the whole breast and armpit area.  I will not have a bolus which is a device that they put on the area where the tumor was to give them better aim. Techs said most people don't need a bolus if the tumor wasn't really deep. 

There is a crystal deodorant that I use under my treated armpit and it works and hasn't caused any problems. I got the crystal and aloe at GNC. The rad techs told me to use cortisone cream on any rashes or irritations at night and wash it off with the Aquaphor the next morning. And not to worry if the marks or little circles come off. They just redo them on Mondays if necessary.

I hope this helped. It seems to reduce my fear if I know what to expect. I'm into my 4th week and have made some friends in the patient waiting room. We even check on each other if someone is missing. When one of us finishes, we cheer them and do a little woo-hoo dance in the changing rooms.  And we've started bringing paperbacks to the private waiting room to exchange.

Hang in there, Ladies! BC changes your life, but even a pessimist like me is beginning to believe I'll be a better person after. I certainly don't sweat the small stuff anymore. And I've found out who my true friends are, but best of all, I found wonderful, supportive ladies on these forums. I'm sending you big (((HUGS)))!

Thanks guys Is good to hear that Rads is causing me my nausea and I don't have to go to fam doc and waste my time just so she tells me she can't give me anything... 11/25 skin just tan i hope it stays like this

Coni - Ginger snaps, ginger ale help too - I forgot that earlier...

karebear,

really? What's the story with the bras? how do I get them?! what's the deal?!