June-July Radiation Therapy

CONGRATS, tunkylala!!!!!

Thanks ladies!! It is partay time..heading to the beach!

I start tomorrow 7/18, Monday

Lucy

That's great, tunky!  Whoop whoop!!

Hi All...

Just want everyone to know... I had BIATENE at first, FOR RADIATION BURNS... At 60 ish dollars for small tube... I finish rads March 1,

 'DESITIN W ZINC' FOR DIAPER RASHED WORKED MUCH BETTER...

I swear by it...

Hi sandybanks,

Welcome to the club that no one wants to join, but we are all supportive and welcoming here.  I have finished two weeks of rad treatments and so far, I am fine physically.  My RO said they would give me creams as needed and not to buy anything.  I ignored his advice and I vary using aloe vera, aquaphor, emu oil, and miaderm several times a day.  The RO has not given me anything yet.  

What I would say is do not be surprised if rad treatments hit you emotionally.  Maybe you will be lucky, but if you feel like crying, please know that you are not alone.  We will all gladly listen to you. 

Hi all! Wanted to update you on what I am experiencing from rad. Just finished a week ago. All pink areas are now brown with little itchy bumps. The areas most effected are the parts of my breast that has had prior sun exposure. No major effect on the white, never seen the sun, skin. Funny. My areola is brown and peeling. Went to beach for the week but wore t shirts with 50plus sun protection. Only using a little hydrocortzone for the itchiness. Also started tamoxifen 2 weeks ago. Seeing some minor se's. Hope all is well!

Rohanna...yes, I have had a dry cough. Told the ro, she said that it should not be related to the rad so soon...I beg to differ.

This is my first post.....Have been reading posts daily....But I had to post as I am so excited that I only have 8 more Rads to go.....YEAH!!!!!!!

Jul 23, 2011 03:14 am Elizabeth1889 wrote:

"What I would say is do not be surprised if rad treatments hit you emotionally.  Maybe you will be lucky, but if you feel like crying, please know that you are not alone.  We will all gladly listen to you."

 Elizabeth, you are so right about the "emotional" part.  It's been a very hard week.  Yesterday, I went for Treatment #8, and sat next to a woman (3rd day in a row)  who very obviously has very advanced cancer.  I felt so bad for her, and at same time, very grateful to have caught my own cancer before it got so bad.  Still, going everyday, and seeing all these poor people is incredibly hard. 

I got thru 3 surgeries (lumpectomies) before I achieved clean margins, and that was not a cake walk.  Still...it is the radiologist's office where I had a complete meltdown last week.  Part of this is fear of the unknown (what will my breast look like after 28 treatments?  Will my husband still find me attractive? etc...)  You can really torment yourself with your own thoughts, and I definately do.  Plus, just the whole "getting older", facing mortality issue in my face all at once, has felt almost crushing, at times.  I feel twenty years older than I did a mere six months ago (add emergency surgery for torn retina last month to the equation, too.  That was terrifying).  I am only 47...but I feel like I'm falling apart, and on death's door. 

My husband joined metaba-life, to lose a goal of 60lbs, (he's lost 15lbs, so far).  I am happy for him,  that hasn't been an easy diet, but it has left me feeling like it is overshadowing my ordeal (which in turn, makes me feel very selfish).  I feel pretty much on my own dealing with this (he's never been to the clinic where I go for treatments).  He sees his "counselors\cheerleaders" once a week, and that is great, but I am fighting feelings of resentment (they are unreasonable, I know). It feels like everything at our house has become about HIS diet (weighing everything, gathering and planning, etc., and the irritability factor, too).  I know my own illness has scared him, too, and if that was motivation to get his health in check, that is a good thing.  Still...in the back of my mind, I fight unreasonable fears (are you getting yourself in shape for other reasons, or someone else?)

I know that my husband loves me, and that a lot of what I am feeling is unfounded.  It's just an incredibly hard place to be.  I just want to wake up, and all of this be over with, and I can get back to being the person I was before (who wasn't this insecure). 

Thanks ladies, for letting me get my ugly monsters out of the closet.  Going for #9 today in an hour.

Lucy

Thanks Elizabeth. While on my way to appt...got call that RAD machine was broken..so no RADs today. Oh well.. I guess I really don't want a broken machine zapping me with RADs.

Lucy

Hi Lucy,

I purchased the Bio Oil at Target. I did notice that they also have it at Walgreens. Hope you find it as it really is an awesome find and with the added benefits that Rohanna mentioned, can't go wrong with this oil!!

Hugs to all!