July 2011 rads

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  • leftfootforward
    leftfootforward Member Posts: 1,726
    edited July 2011

    Damaris- I had my first one today as well.  Hope yours went ok.  

    I had an ok experience. They had to x-ray me multiple times to line me up.  It would have been a completely unremarkable experience if I didn't have to do the whole breath holding thing. Having to stare at a computer screen while holding your breath is harder than you think. You can't blink for fear that you might not keep the line where it is supposed to be. I ended up with very watery, blurry, and itchy eyes.  I got through it but it is going to be a long 2 months.

  • JessicaS
    JessicaS Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2011

    I just had my second radiation session today. I am feeling very tired tonight but wondering if it is just because I have been so busy running around or its the radiation.  Did anyone else experience fatigue so early on? 

  • ImJulie
    ImJulie Member Posts: 58
    edited July 2011

    My "dry run" was changed to tomorrow. Apparently, they were having some problems with one of their machines. My port removal surgery went well today.

    I was so hoping to be done with this in August, but now it looks like September...

    ~Julie

  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited July 2011

    2nd RAD today. The techs are really nice & try to expose me minimally.

    But paranoia is setting in. I have a pain in my hip & my mind is thinking bone met. I had a PET scan 3months ago so I'm going to ask the RO to review it, just in case something was missed. Just an annoying pain that hurts when I walk down stairs or run. The pain started 2 days ago. I see the RO on Thurs. Hopefully the pain will be gone by then.

  • Lena
    Lena Member Posts: 1,036
    edited July 2011

    2/31 as of today. Jan, no I didn't try baby oil -- it didn't even OCCUR to me to try it (I don't even have it in the house). However, when I have my rads tomorrow, I'll ask about it and if they say it's OK I'll pick some up and give it a go.

    DenimBlue -- since I'm a pessimist, I'm careful about saying stuff like that.. LOL but for now I haven't yet had enough rads to get the SEs. I'll just wait and see...and keep my freakin' mouth shut! LOL

    Pejkug, SHHHHH! You don't wanna jinx it! LOL 

  • LindaJanette
    LindaJanette Member Posts: 71
    edited July 2011

    Have I mentioned do not like mondays and tuesdays wednesdays and ill keep you posted on thursdays- /FRi.Sat?sun are much better.

    Arm hurts from node op- red spots starting to ocur -am gaining back a little weight bummer

    was the 20 lbs down was the only good side effe=ct I could find. Oncho type Friday to be blessed into my ears Monday

    To Chemo or not to chemo? Since I am on 7/33 in Rads WTF? would you do I ask. Hang In sisters we will make it through and plan some out rageous coming out of rad age>> Any one else in for a little adventutre..

    husband in for operation tommorow not sure im ready to play nurse - I still need some help my own self... Happy Wednesday Ladies..

    Try the Emu oil 

  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    Lena - I know, I know!  I've been trying to lay low about how well I've been holding up.  But I am wicked tired.  I can easily sleep 12 hours.  My oldest (14) has been great about keeping the twins (7) entertained until mom can drag her butt downstairs to take over.  Bless her heart, I don't know what I'd do without her.

    Linda - sounds like you have a lot going on!  I'm sorry, what is your DH having surgery for?  Perhaps it's been posted before and I missed it...

    And I do use the Emu oil...  ;)

  • JessicaS
    JessicaS Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2011

    I know I am joining in this conversation pretty late and you all already have a connection to eachother but I am feeling a little nervous about how I am feeling and wondering if anyone else is feeling tired already or its just in my head.  I am just going for my 3rd course of radiation today. Is it possible?

  • ked329
    ked329 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2011

    Hi Jessica, I also started feeling tired early on .... who knows what exactly was causing it, but it was real fatigue. I think the emotional/psychological piece is really big and is there right from the beginning. I was also dealing with post-operative pain, and that was tiring. Anyway, you're the expert on your body, so if you're feeling tired, then you're tired! Take care and be kind to yourself!! Glad you posted and joined the thread!

  • Damaris51270
    Damaris51270 Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2011

    HI YORELH,

    DID YOU GET ANY EFFECTS YESTERDAY? I GOT A MAYOR HEADACHE DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE RADIATION. I FEEL THE SAME ABOUT HOLDING MY BREATH IS NOT EASY...

    WELCOME JESSICA, I JUST JOINED YESTERDAY ALSO, THIS LADIES ARE AMAZING AND TOGETHER ALL WILL GO SMOOTH. RADS NURSE TOLD ME CAN'T WEAR DEODORANT BUT GAVE ME THE NAME OF ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE INGREDIENTS AS IN THE REGULAR DEODORANT SAYS I CAN USE IS CALLED "TOM'S OF MAINE" IS ANYONE OF YOU USING THIS?

    I ALSO FEEL KING OF WEIRD EXPOSING MY BREASTS EVEN THOUGH YES THEY TRY COVERING THE OTHER BREAST SO YOU DON'T FEEL SO EXPOSED.  I WENT TO FLUSH  MY CATERER PAINFUL HAD FOUR CHEMOS AND DOCTOR INFORMED ME I HAVE TO TAKE FOUR MORE SO EVEN THOUGH I'M GOING THRU RADS I WILL ALSO BE TAKING CHEMO AGAIN, NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT BUT THINKING POSSITIVE THOUGH...

    THANKS AGAIN,

    DAMARIS

    THANKS FOR THE ADVICE LADIES,

  • kittymama
    kittymama Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2011

    Hi Everyone,

    Glad to have found this thread.  I'd love to join your group. Today will be my tx 5/25.  Not pink or feeling fatigued yet.  I'm probably more anxious about when that will happen than I am about the actual treatment.  I had a uni-mastectomy with TE.  Didn't anticipate that margins would be less than 1mm!  I was fully expanded before rads.  Just hope it all holds up.  

    Jessica:

    Where are you receiving your treatment?  I'm at PMH.  What a great hospital!   I'm not feeling tired yet, but I am very anxious having to go to the hospital everyday so probably not getting as much sleep as I should, which will probably impact me later on.

  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    Popping in for a second before I run out to #16.  I also see the RO today.

    I'm using the Tom's of Maine deodorant.  I actually started using it in February.  It's ok stuff, but you have to reapply throughout the day.  It certainly isn't as strong as the normal stuff. 

  • Lena
    Lena Member Posts: 1,036
    edited July 2011

    3/33.  or 3/30? Finished #3 half an hour ago but dunno the proper format is it # you've had/total number, or number you've had/how many left to go? Mystery Ailment running full blast. I can't wait to get home and take a pain pill, but I have another appointment at 2 so I'm stuck here......it's almost noon now. Normally this kind of thing doesn't bother me, I just sit on my iBook between appointments like I'm doing now. It's just more fun when I'm not in pain and not in desperate need of a nap. 

    My rad techs said they didn't know if I should use baby oil (kind of a surprise but OK), so to hell with it. I can be Graffiti Girl. I can't be bothered slathering more crap on me anyway.

    Yeah I was also told 'no deodorant' during rads unless it was that Tom's stuff. I've also heard about how users have to  apply periodically throughout the day. Normally I use a Secret stick deodorant, will probably resume after I recover from rads. For now though, I still shower each night so I don't give a flying horsecrap if someone thinks I smell -- I don't smell BO on me. I wasn't using the Secret because *I* thought I smelled bad. As far as I'm concerned, anybody who takes a shower or bath at least once every 24 hours probably does NOT "need" deodorants, I was using it because I liked the actual scent of it, not because I was trying to hide BO which I didn't even have.

  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited July 2011

    Welcome Jessica S, Damaris5127, and kittymama,

    I wish we could have met under different circumstances, but here we are and we can all support each other.  My first week of rads was last week and I felt more tired then than I do this week.  My skin is still holding up all right thanks to miaderm, aloe vera, emu oil, and aquaphor.  I use Tom's of Maine unscented deoderant and like everyone else, I have to reapply it several times a day.  I wish they would make extra strength Tom's of Maine. 

  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 706
    edited July 2011

    I must admit I haven't used any deodorant under my rads arm (week 4) and I haven't noticed any odor at all. I'm wondering if I actually need deodorant any more...hehe,...maybe I could skip the other underarm too. I've been pleasantly surprised...

  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    I, too, have noticed that I no longer need deodorant under my rads arm.  I'm choosing to think of it as a perk.  ;)

    I saw the RO after my 16/33 today - he said my skin looks great.  I asked him if it was better than expected at this point.  He told me that during weeks 3-4 is when most women start to have some breakdown in the skin.  Well, we'll see what this week holds for me.  I'm just the tiniest bit pink - hard to even know for sure, really.  The rib pain I'm experiencing is lower than the treatment field and I noticed today that when some of the techs slide me around on the table, they pull on me right there.  So maybe it's from being dragged around on the treatment table.

    The RO said to keep doing what I'm doing because it's working.  :)  For anyone new to this thread, I'm using Omaz's skin care regime, eating 150-ish grams of protein per day, drinking tons of water and sleeping whenever I feel tired.

    And who knows, this week could be rough and undo everything.  But I'm claiming victory for today!! 

    Lena - When I post treatment numbers, I post treatments completed/total treatments.  I think that's what everyone else is doing, too.  I hope your appt this afternoon goes well!

  • kittymama
    kittymama Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2011

    pejkug3, I hope you don't mind me asking, but from what foods are you deriving protein?  I'm trying to eat protein at every meal and I still can't get to 100 grams.  For example, today for breakfast, I had yogurt and berries, lunch was an egg salad sandwich and dinner is going to be swordfish.  I think it ends up being only about 75 grams.  What am I missing?  Thank you!

  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    Eggs/Egg Whites  (7g)
    cottage cheese (13g)
    Greek Yogurt (14-16g)
    Low fat cheese (6-10g)
    Smart Balance Milk (11g)
    chicken breast (37g)
    salmon (34g)
    beans
    whole wheat bread (10g in two slices)

    I resort to using protein powder on days when I'm too low.  Myoplex original has 42 grams!  But it's expensive.

    It's been really hard for me to get in 150 grams everyday.  I miss the mark by 25 grams or so more often than not.  My RO looks over my diet every week.  I keep a food and sleep journal to show him.  He's really encouraging me to strive for the 150 grams.  I suppose it makes sense - fule your body well so it can repair itself from the inside out.  But it's hard to get all the protein in!

  • kittymama
    kittymama Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2011

    Thank you! I'm going to stock upon greek yogurt and cottage cheese, two of my favorite foods, believe or not. Also, Myoplex is a great suggestion.

  • Colodisneylover
    Colodisneylover Member Posts: 220
    edited July 2011

    Does Myoplex have soy or soy lechitin in it?

  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    Myoplex has soy lecithin as the last ingredient.  I'm avoiding soy, but I figured this was only for rads.

    Another option for protein powder is GNC Total Lean - 25 grams of protein per serving.  It has soybean oil (creamer) but no soy lecithin.  Why are you avoiding soy lecithin specifically, DisneyLover?

  • LindaJanette
    LindaJanette Member Posts: 71
    edited July 2011

    Hey girls,

    Yes I fully feel fatigued and it's only my second week, so your not crazy - I agree that part of

    it is just emotional strain from everything and still recovering from the surgerys- but I feel a dip

    in my energy between 3-5 and It never really comes back in the evening- Im just going with it, I feel like my family is over it and wants me to be my old self -Im just not there yet so they are going to have to wait I am doing the best I can at the moment..Hubby had knee surgery this morning took him waited for him to get in recovery ran across town got my rad and went back to pick him up. Thank the lord it went really well and hopefully he won't be down for long.

    Ladies no one has gone over nutrition or protien intake with me- I had sarted doing alot of research and eating broccoli like crazy also shitake and mitake mushrooms, are supposed to be super antioxidents in fact what they are using in the newest cancer drugs- (so I got a supplement as well) When I told the rad doc she said don't go crazy with the antioxidents now because they gather the free radicals and the radiation is supposed to be putting the free radicals in your body- so I have postponed the mushroom supplement util last day of rads and I am just trying to eat healty. But last two day Ive been really bad and Im mad at myself, I intend to start fresh tommorow so any advice that you've heard I am interested in.

    Also avoiding all soy and estrogen products and food. 

  • Colodisneylover
    Colodisneylover Member Posts: 220
    edited July 2011

    I am trying to avoid soy/soy products in general, pegkuj3.  It's hard to do, that's for sure.

  • Maybe484
    Maybe484 Member Posts: 170
    edited July 2011

    In some ways I felt more tired the first week than this, my fourth week of hypofractionated treatments.  Just had #16.  But my tech today forewarned me that the REAL tired could begin soon.  So far, though, I've tended more towards insomnia than narcolepsy. 

    My armpit--where my tumor was--is angry and red and swollen.  My arm is swollen.  But I'm sure my SEs are exacerbated by the comparatively unusual location of my excision/re-excision/SNB site--all the same place, where I used to shave.

    Yesterday, my RO unexpectedly recommended that I might want to forego the 5 boosts and just stop with the 17 higher dosage WB treatments I will have had as of tomorrow.  I'm ambivalent--not exactly shouting from the rooftops since I am weighing mega-prevention of a local recurrence against prevention of LE in my dominant arm.  RO says that the boosts could be overkill.  Also, there's no time to recover before beginning an AI.  I was handed a Femara sample yesterday.  That was like another pin pricking my tiny helium balloon ascending at the mention of the end of rads.

    Best wishes to all and I look forward to seeing you on the After Rads thread.

  • janinnj
    janinnj Member Posts: 89
    edited July 2011

    Welcome to all the newcomers,  Jessica how are yor RBC's.  Anemia can be contributing to your feeling so tired this early.  I know the stress of the whole getting to treatment on a daily bases and dealing with the BC itself is also a factor.  I am so lucky that I have the treatment at the hospital where I work so I just go to the Cancer Treatment Center on my afternoon break. No worries about gettinbg to a different location. 

    Lena- hope you solve the mystery illness soon, it has been long enough.  I mentioned the baby oil because the head tech is the one that suggested it to me and it worked for me.  I have my tattoos now so no more markers.  Just the smallest little dots that you wouldn't even know are there unless you know where to look. 

    Jan

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

    Its the soy Isolate in the supplements you need to stay away from.. My nutritionist said if you have a little soy milk or soy lecithin it won't hurt you but only once in a while.

  • JessicaS
    JessicaS Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2011

    Thanks everyone. My fatigue come around 3-5 as well. I am ok in the morning. Kittymamma, I am at Sunnybrook, but my Surgeon and Oncologist are at PMH. I really wanted to be with a Rad Onc at Sunnybrook so chose to go there for that.  It is also closer to home. I do prefer PMH though, much nicer.  It is frustrating because the radiation is at different times every day and they keep switching my the times they have given me for the next day, so impossible to make plans.  

    JaninJ, My CBC is all normal. I just had it done recently because the day I was discharged after my BMX in May, I had what they thought was either an ileus or partial bowel obstruction and had to return to the ER.  I had bloodwork and upper and lower endoscopy in June and all was well.

    Is anyone shaving their underarms? I was told I had to use an electric razor.  I feel like with the BMX and smelly hairy pits, I will be mistaken for  a boy! 

    Has anyone been using Biafine cream? My mother used it when she had breast cancer and said it helped but that was 7 years ago.  The Rad Onc told me to use lanolin free lubriderm but not sure.

    I hope everyone has the best day they can tomorrow. 

  • GiGiL
    GiGiL Member Posts: 928
    edited July 2011

    Hi! I had ny second treatment today. The underside of my breast on one side is already pink. Is it unusual to be pink so soon? I am using the lotion they have given me. I too am feeling fatigue but I wonder if it is just having to keep up the pace.

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

    Gigil I turned pink early too but that doesn't mean it will get worse quickly - if you use your cream the doc gives you and make sure you don't use it  4 hours before treatment.. you can just stay pink the whole treatment... key is to keep it hydrated - I used aloe at first then they switched me to samples of x-clair during the day and aquaphor at night... I didn't get red until the last week of my treatment.. You will do fine..

  • GiGiL
    GiGiL Member Posts: 928
    edited July 2011

    Thank you for getting back to me so quickly Gma Foley. I am comforted to know that the pink might not have to get worse quickly. I will use the creams religiously. I can do this! My skin is darker too-olive, and i have rarely had a sunburn. Guess it really doesn't matter what your skin color is.

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