July 2011 rads

Jessica, I felt tired early on too and was wondering if it was in my head as well.. I had my fifth treatment today (doing fractionation so it is more like the 10th treatment).  Today is the first day I did not feel tired after treatment.. I am starting to turn pink already though

HELLO LADIES,

JESSICA, HAVEN'T SHAVED MY ARMPITS SINCE PRIOR TO CHEMO RADS NURSE TOLD ME NOT TO ALSO, BUT HAIR HAS NOT GROWN BACK THERE YET HAD MY LAST OF FOUR CHEMO BACK ON 6/24.

ELIZABETH AND BERB I ALSO HAVE BEEN PLEASANTLY SURPRISE ABOUT NOT SMELLING AFTER A FEW DAYS OF NO DEODORANT.. BUT FEEL MORE CONFORTABLE USING ONE.. IS JUST WEIRD NOT TO PUT ANYTHING UNDER THERE.

LADIES THANKS FOR THE WELCOMING IS SOOOO NICE TO HAVE A GROUP TO SHARE EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL.

I WORKED THRU CHEMO THREE DAYS A WEEK AND I'M STILL WORKING THRU RADS, I'M ALWAYS TIRE BUT THAT DOESN'T TOP ME .. I THINK WORKING AND KIDS 6 AND 12 HAVE KEPT ME ACTIVE AND POSITIVE EVEN THOUGH WHEN NIGHT COMES I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS.  THEY ARE STILL ACHING AND SORE FROM THE NEULASTA FOR BOOSTING WTC.

IS ANYONE ELSE WORKING WHILE GOING THRU ALL THIS?

HUGS,

DAMARIS 

I saw my dentist yesterday and the hygienist gave me a flouride treatment to apply every night especially at the gum line before I go to bed.  It is like toothpaste except you do not rinse your mouth after applying it and you cannot drink any liquids for three hours.  She said that radiation anywhere to the body damaged the roots of the teeth and I am supposed to use this flouride treatment for five years.  Has anyone else heard this?

It's funny that dentalk issues are being talked about.  I have such a sensitve tooth!  No dental insurance and I've always had healthy teeth.  I saw the dentist for a cleaning in April and all was well.

I think I may have cracked it.  I'm a grinder at night and I wonder if I damaged it.  I made an appt for Tuesday. 

17/33 treatments completed.  They set me up an appt to have another chest CT to do sim for boosts.  That's next Friday and I asked about all the markings they do during sim.  She told me - yes, they would be doing markings and they would need to stay on all weekend.  Um, it's 100 degrees here and I'm using creams - there is NO way I'd preserve those through the weekend!  She mentioned using tape to cover them but that tape eats my skin right off.  So she finally said that they wouldn't worry about keeping the markings, they would just remark on Monday.

Sometimes I feel like a difficult patient because I typically question the plan.  Most people must just do what they're told.  I don't mean to be a pain in the butt, I have *always* questioned everything.  Makes my DH crazy!  But serisouly - no one has a problem with trying to preserve sharpie marks over a weekend in the blazing heat?!  I must be a princess...  lol

I had Herceptin infusion this morning.  A woman with Stage IV BC that has recently spread to her brain walked in, took one look at me and said. "Holy crap, C.  You look like hell today!"

LOL!

Too funny.  She's having WBR and in a fight for her life and she thinks I look like hell.  Hmmm...I must look really bad!  I told her I was doing rads and just tired.  She said rads knocked her on her tail...I can only imagine that WBR would do that to a person.  Bless her heart.  I just love her.

Elizabeth...hate to contradict your hygenist, but thought I would share some info. My husband is a dentist so I asked him what he thought about your fluoride treatment. He said that your teeth are not in danger from radiation unless your treatment is along the jawline or above. Not supraclavical, and not thyroid area. But if it is jaw or higher the saliva glands can be damaged, so then the teeth/roots are at risk. If you have extensive dental work, fluoride treatments may not be a bad idea, he said. He thought no drinking for three hours was excessive. He recommends no drinking for one hour after fluoride. Radiation is very targeted, so it is very unlikely that your teeth roots are at risk from that. You might want to call and ask the dentist specifically.

pegkug3 and kshav6, I joked early on that I probably have "difficult" written on my chart, a la Elaine on Seinfeld.  I too have lots of questions.  My second rad I even received a second copy of the rules (no talking to the techs unless they're with you--I can certainly understand that rule, since today they were discussing the important topic of one of their recent Caribbean cruise vacations).

I was originally scheduled for 17 hypofractionated WBRs and 5 boosts--but on Tues. I discussed with my RO (who's great) the boosts and my concerns (mainly worry about LE and arm function since my dominant arm is already swelling and my axilla is looking swollen and has endured two surgeries as well) and she said she'd be willing to cancel the boosts.  We have an appointment to discuss this on Tues.--to boost or not to boost--plus my concerns about the SEs of AIs, specifically Femara.

So today was my final WBR and I'm definitely red--mostly at the top of my rad field on my chest and especially under my arm.  My nipple stayed very sore and tingly from the beginning but hasn't gotten discernably worst.

ETA: No one's told me I look like crap, but I know I do.  I have huge raccooon circles under my eyes--I scared myself today in the mirror.

Best of luck to you all--and TGIF!

Hi everyone! This thread is pretty helpful! I started yesterday...today is #2. I ask a lot of questions at all of my visits and was pretty persistent to find out about the swimming...my Dr. told me no swimming period. Not only can the chlorine and chemicals cause a skin irritation/reaction...but so can salt water, so no ocean either. Which, at first I though..no way, I HAVE to swim...but decided it's not worth it. I can suck it up for 6-7 weeks, besides there is always biking and running (and walking!). She told me I could start 2 weeks AFTER my last Rad. Treatment..so mid-September. I'm using Aquaphor 3 times a day and they explained to me to cover a big square with it..from mid-chest to under my armpits...it's messy, but in the scheme of things, I don't care! Especially if it works! Good luck with your treatments today and enjoy the weekend!

KSHAV6 - I had a similar experience to BETSYR with nipple pain.  I go for #18/33 today and my nipple no longer hurts.  But it hurt like heck a week or so ago.

I can't believe that July is coming to an end.  For those starting soon, it really does go by quickly.  I started June 28 and I didn't believe that when people told me. 

I had my first treatment yesterday and was surprised to learn that I keep all the marker and tape on through the whole thing! I guess I should have asked or learned from you ladies, but I was devastated to learn that. The worst is that I have 2 pieces of tape and a line that extend onto my neck (radiating all of my nodes); they aren't even completely covered in a t-shirt.

So my question: how do you apply lotion with all these marks and bits of tape? 

Also, has anyone come up with a creative way to cover their markings? Does anyone else have any as high as mine? 

As if being bald weren't already bad enough...

Elizabeth, I am doing well so far. Thanks for asking! I finished 13 of 33 today. I get tired mid-afternoon, but I am off for the summer (school counselor), so that helps immensely! I did chemo while working March-May and that was tough sometimes. I would miss chemo day (usually Thu), then work Friday. Sometimes Monday I could not work-or would come in at 10:00 or 11:00. I'll still have 10 or so rads to finish when school starts again in August, so am planning on working half-days I think. I overdid with chemo, and I don't want to do that again.

Maxine, I hate to hear you have to wear the tape and markings. Mine are black-light tattoos. You can't see them until they shine the pen light on them. They mark them each day with the tip of a Sharpie. When I "lube up" afterward, I wipe them off. They remark every day. But I have read on here and the June thread that several have to keep the tape and lines of marker. The indignities that we endure. SIGH

5/28 down so far no side effects.  I started using the aquafore about a week before treatment.  My current regime I took a little from everyones suggestions.  I use the aquafor at night.  Emu oil in the morning and the aloe after each trearment in the afternoon.  Hope this continues to work but I'm not holding my breath.  I got a letter from my insurance stating they are approving all of the radiation the RO has in his plan but only 2 of the 5 angles he is using.  guess we will have to appael.  my tumors were multi foci and I had 8 positive lymph nodes so they have to do them too.  I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!!

Congrats to all for getting another week closer to the end.  Rest, eat and drink but most of all be merry.  Have a great week-end

Maxine: I also have marking (green) up the chest to my neck and on the right side of my neck. Clothing won't cover it. I thought about a necklace. I'll have to see if I have any necklaces that will mask marks! As for the lotion, I am applying it over everything - skin and tape. I have 6 taped areas.

Smilie: My daughter's nickname is Smilie!  And like you and Maxine, I also started yesterday. The procedures would be a breeze, but I have a shoulder impingement in my right shoulder and that is the side getting rads. It is very difficult to hold that position for even 10 minutes. When they are done, I have to lift my right arm with my left hand, it is too painful to lift it by itself. But once I am up and moving around, it doesn't hurt as much.

Had 2/28 today and have some shooting pain in the middle of the breast. I guess this is normal. Have a great weekend everyone!

~Julie

I hope everyone is having a nice radiation free weekend.  I finished 4/32 today.  I started getting pink after treatment number 2.  I have been alternating aloe with the cream the radiation tech gave me, four times a day, and an extra time of aloe if I should wake up during the night.  By morning the pink is much faded so far.  Thank you Gma Foley for your encouraging words.  It helped to hear that it doesn't have to get worse.  So far, no fatigue, but I realize it is early on.  I got three tattoos and it seems they decide to draw on one side each day with a Sharpee.  I think the tattoo is a bit light on that side.  I am glad to read that the time does go by quickly.  At the beginning, the length of time seemed so long.  I am getting used to the daily routine though, which always helps.  Bless all of us who are going through this together.  We can do it!

Gigil The reason not to lose weight is when you are healing, loss of weight comes out of muscle not fat.... hense the need for lots of protein to keep your muscle...and to have enough energy for you body to heal itself... you can lose weight after your body finishes healing... I am 2 weeks out from last rad treatment and I am still on high protein the nutritionist says to wait until all the skin is healed up before starting my new food plan....

ImJulie: the shooting pain is the nerve endings coming back and my RO said something the other day... What you see on the outside of your breast is also what is going on on the inside during your rad treatments...so nerve pain could happen...I only get twinges now when I do too much and night time...

I am living proof you will survive and there is light at the end of the tunnel... I used to get mad when someone would say that but now I understand...and they were correct....

GmaFoley that makes a lot of sense.  I almost find myself craving protein type foods, like chicken.  My appetite is actually a bit more than it has been lately.  I like hearing from you and having you say there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Day two it all seemed so overwhelming.  Today, it doesn't feel so daunting.