July 2011 rads

Hello Everyone,

I know I'm a little late joining this group, but just happened to run across it today.

I started radiation July 5th, so today was Day 15/31 or 33 - my RO has not decided if he will give me 3 or 5 booster treatments.

I have to say that so far radiation has been the easiest thing I've had to endure since my diagnosis on April 8, 2011 (obviously I did not have to go through chemo - Thank God!!).  I am in and out of there in 15 minutes flat and I love my Radiation team, I'm trying to think of something to do for them once I am done, because they have made this whole process stress-free for me. 

I read a couple of postings of people who've had bad experiences with radiation staff...I had initially gone to another office had my mapping done and everything and cancelled the day of the first scheduled treatment, I just did not feel comfortable with the nurses or male therapists (I don't have a problem with male doctors, but they did not seem at all professional) - not to mention that one of them tried to flirt with me in the parking lot when I came for my first consultation with the RO - he didn't know I was a patient and I did'nt know he was a therapists until my next visit..  So I think it definitely helps to be comfortable with the team.  I would advise anyone to not be afraid to change centers if you can, you don't need the added stress! 

Week three (last week) my breast did start to "tan" and I am noticing today some dryness in the nipple area.  I also think that I am starting to feel a bit fatigued - my treatments are at 10:45 and I'm dozing at noon, while watching TV.

When I was diagnosed, a friend of a friend recommended a product called Alra - she told me that it was very soothing for her skin during radiation.  I ordered this product online - deodorant and lotion, I love the deodorant (so for those who say they have to re-apply during the day, you may want to try this) and the temp was in the 3-digiits here on last week.  I'm thinking I probably need to apply the lotion 4 times a day as my RO ordered, rather than twice a day when I remember to combat the dryness around the nipple.

While radiation has been a piece of cake, I am already starting to become concerned about having to take this drug Tamoxifen for the next 5 years... 

Hi Girls,

Momoftwo-I hope someone makes you breakfast this week -I hope you feel better. 

Well thank goodness Monday is over with I am warning you my son pulls out of the driveway tomorrow morning back to college, a day early so I will apoligize in advance for tomorrows tear filled posting.

My Oncotype was supposed to be in today but Oncologist I do not like- called to postpone my results a week which I think is ridculus because the lab tech said he would personally have it done  last Friday- ( I think she just didn't want to come to the office in my town this week she only comes here on Mondays). Just apprehensive that they started my rad before the cart, so to speak and everytime she talks to me she talks chemo-so what will they do pull me off rads after 3 weeks put me on  chemo and then back to rads??? Im so confused and supposed to start the tomox on Monday but not sure if I want to. I am definitly going to find a new oncoloigst as soon as I have the test results in my hand..

Hope you all have an uneventful pain, red and blister free week. 

Im sorry to complain to all of you that have been through so much more than I

Yes LindaJanette that would be nice.My RO said that everything might be catching up with me,because I have really been good except with the rash and being red.So she told me to go home and try not to do to much.I Start my boosts tomorrow.I am almost done I cant wait

5 treatments down, and 27 to go for me.  The weekend felt like such a relief.  Saturday the fatigue caught up with me.  My sister wanted to do something, so I put one foot in front of the other and met her for a movie and dinner.  My husband works weekends, and I am usually very alone with my thoughts.  It was nice to have my sis there.  We went out for brunch with a cousin on Sunday, and by the end of that, I was feeling energetic.  Good thing I had some energy, because I discovered early evening that our freezer had quit.  I had to empty the freezer and shuffle the frozen food around to preserve it.  I was glad to see my husband by the time he got home at midnight.  Today, I really felt like I had to gear up for treatment.  It did help to know what to expect and it is becoming a routine.  That helps some.  The therapists are always friendly and we find things to chat about during the preliminary set up.  It helps to relate to them on a personal level.  I haven't cried about radiation, but I have definitely had my fears.  My son suggested that I think of it as healing lasers, and he jokes that I am getting super powers because of the radiation.  It helps to joke about it, and I have used the idea of healing lasers to think of any errant cancer cells as being zapped out of existence.  I also pray for the hand of God to protect what needs to be protected as the treatments go on, and also to heal the healthy tissues in between.  I take a half a xanax now and then when the thoughts get to be too much.  I use visualization in the morning when I wake up too early and positive affirmations.  We can get through this girls.  We can do it!  We are getting stronger with every treatment.  We ARE getting super powers.  Much love to all of you.

Smilie, Thank you for saying you don't have any issue with Tamoxifen,I have to start it after RADS. And i am so nerves about taking it.There is hope Thank you

My RO, aka Dr. Clueless, sees all his rads patients on Tuesdays.  Today, he walked into the exam room and asked me if things were getting any easier for me.  When I said "No," he replied, "Well, we are always here for you."  Then, he exited the room leaving me alone.  The whole visit took less than two minutes.  I hope all of you have a better RO than mine.  Yours would have to go a long way to be worse.  Well, 12 down/21 to go and then I am out of there.

This might be a stupid question, but what does radiation fatigue feel like?  Is it like porn - you know it when you see it?  I finished 9/25 today and don't feel any differently yet.  Does it usually kick in later on treatment?  Is it a sleepy-fatigue or a burned-out fatigue?  Thank you for any insight.

Oh yes I forgot to say welcome LeLe hope we can be of some help....

Welcome to LeeLee3!

Had 21/31 today and I am wiped out. I have two more WBR treatments this week and then I get a break until August 15th when I'll start getting my 8 boosts. It seems I have an old-fashioned RO that likes to give you a break inbetween to give the skin time to heal. My rads techs were telling me that many people at first complain because they want to get finished but after it happens, they're glad they had the break. They said the skin does much better. They explained how the skin keeps getting worse for around 5-7 days after you finish treatment which I hadn't realized so I am really looking forward to the break.

It is so nice to have these forums to read and write on. If I write anything about being tired or such on facebook, my friends and family are calling me and offering to bring dinner and then I never get any sleep...hehe....

pejkug3j- I'm definitely pink but the only pain I'm really having is under my arm. That is sore, but very bearable at this point. I keep putting the aloe on it and hoping that it won't get any worse. Today the fatigue has really struck me  so that's overshadowing the burn. I'm glad that you're doing well! How many regular do you have and how many boosts?

@ kshav6,  - I guess we just keep telling ourselves that the benefits outweight the SE's

@Smilie - thanks, glad to hear of someone with no issues taking this drug!

@LindaJanette - thanks!  My son goes back in about a month - trying not to think about it - LOL!! No problem - go ahead and cry and get it over with   Also, I am so sorry to hear of your experience with your Oncologist, but sooooo glad to hear that you will be getting rid of him/her - , the RO and the Radiation team make a huge difference in your experience - radiation is radiation and whatever SE's we have, we just have, but the daily experience does not  have to be something we suffer through!  So good luck with finding a better team!

 @Barb58 - thanks! 

@Gigil - I LOVE your son's idea and I promise to use my powers for good - LOL!!! 

@Elizabeth1889 - OMG, so sorry!  It's still kind of early - any chance of you switiching ROs - you should not have to deal with that, on top of everything else.  I know it may be easier said than done, but... 

To all - God Bless! 

Kittymama, that's a great analogy about rads fatigue. 

Barb58, I can verify that the skin SEs get worse after rads are finished--I am in that week right now.  I finished my WBRs (breast and axilla) on Thurs.  I'm not exactly doing the happy dance--over the weekend I developed "wet" desquamation in my axilla.   This is not said to create more anxiety for those not finished . . . I  think it was inevitable that I have some sort of  serious skin reaction, due to the awkward axillary location of my tumor.  Two surgeries, rads, July humidity, and an armpit are not in good company.

I had a long talk with my wonderful RO today and we have decided that my boosts are officially cancelled.  When I asked her if she thought I'd had adequate radiation to my axilla, she said, "Have you seen your armpit lately ?!?"  So I am well done with and well done from rads. 

ETA:  Also I begged and was granted a two-week reprieve till I begin an AI for five years, if I can tolerate it.  At least now I hopefully won't have overlapping rads and AI SEs.

Sincere best wishes to you all!

LeeLee3:  Thank you for the kind words.  They mean so much.  I have thought about changing centers, but there is not much to choose from locally.  Also, I just want to soldier on and get rads over as soon as possible.  The empathy of the people on this forum counteract the coldness of the RO.  Thank you to everyone here.

Kshav6 - I am so sorry you had such a bad day- Doctors can be so insensitive'

I am going to give my stupid oncologist a bill for sleepless nights, bad bed side manner and adding stressers to my life.. (Im serious she has my test results and wont give me the results until Monday) so I am going to make up a bill on my computer and when the want there damn copay before she sees me to give me my results I am going to hand them my bill for services unrendered.

Sorry about the hubby thing too- try to do something nice for yourself and go to sleep early tonight dream good dreams and tomorrow will be a much better day..

13/33 and small blisters are starting to appear in a few spots will use cortazone cream..

I loved the age appropriate outfit sometimes you girls are the only thing that calms me down and gives me smile all day. 

@LindaJanette - Thanks for the kind words.  I never even saw the doctor.. only heard her voice in the next room lol.. It was her staff that was being insesative.  I am hoping to have a better day tomorrow.. I get to go see a funny movie so the belly laughs should help   Sorry to hear about the bilsters, I hope they heal quickly and you get no more!!!