Sept 2011 Rads

Hi pam53,

I did not have oncotype. I go to see my medical oncologist Thursday, and I will ask him about it. I think the reason I didn't have it is because I do not need chemo.

Hi Ladies,

Stormy, my mold was like a bean bag around my shoulders, they got me positioned and then took all the air out and it became one hard mold.  Not too comfy but  it will do.  I am in a clinical trail because I am HER 2 + but I was told today that I will not be getting the Herception just radiation.   I will have 30 treatments and they pushed that back now until 9/13.   This means i won't be finished until about the end of October. Halloween is my favorite holiday and I want to enjoy it.  I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Labor day.

Clelia

Hi everyone,

Just found this discussion board and glad to join in the conversation. I had my 8th rad yesterday and am pretty sensitive and sore. I have 25 more to go and am nervous about how bad this might get. I'm fair and have pretty sensitive skin. Finished chemo early Aug. and just regained my energy. Hate that I might lose it again.

luv2trav, I feel the same way. I just want this all to be over. I live an hour away from the tx center and I'm having to leave work early every day. Plus I figured it will cost me almost $500 in gas by the end of my treatments. I know I should be grateful that my prognosis is good because of the medicine, and I am, but right now I'm having a hard time with it all.

So tired of wearing scarves every day. Wish I were the kind of woman who's comfortable showing her bald head!

Okay, enough complaining for one morning. I'll try to be more positive next time I post. Thanks for listening.

marybm - welcome to the club!  We will all get through this.  Hopefully by the end we will all be more bubbly than blah.  lol.

marybm - my rads office offered me the American cancer society's gas reimbursement - pays 14cents a mile, which wil help tremendously towards my half hour each way daily drive. Just got my first card from them, 49$ on an American express card. Ask your rads office. Apparently it could have been offered thru the onc office, too, but they never mentioned it, so I missed out on help for the hour each way for the last 4 months.

Jackifp - thanks for the suggestion. I'd LOVE to get 14 cents a mile. Even 4 cents a mile! I'll ask on Tuesday. I didn't have a mold made either - had the same digital photo routine as you. The techs spend a lot of time shifting me around on the table before treatment starts. I've also wondered about the accuracy especially in case I move a little.

Neecee - thanks for the welcome. I'm sure we'll get through this, especially with the support of people in our lives and on this board. It does help to complain a bit now & then even though it doesn't change a thing!

Love the comment about easy on the eyes. With all the new doctors you'd think at least one of them would be good looking, nope I got all old farts, lol

stormy123 - I think the cream you are asking about is udder balm.  I use 100% aloe when I get sunburned.  It is a little sticky until it dries, but it is the only thing I trust with a skin burn!  We grow aloe in our garden to use.  My husband puts it in his water. 

I don't know why but my rad group told me just to use Aloe Vera gel for now and then if I need it they will give me stronger/other lotions etc to put on it.  I have not started.  19th for me..

Hi Ladies,

Has anyone use the Tom's deoderant? I used it yesterday and today and do not care for it at all. Is there anything else that I can use?  Thanks for the tips on creams and lotions.

Neece;

Glad to see you doing well and had your first treatment. Thanks for being there!!

revmama - Welcome!  It is good to see a familiar name on this thread.  We will get through this together.  I started rads this past Friday.

EvelynMarie - my RO did not tell me to use specific products, but did make some suggestions regarding lotions.  He did say no to any underarm products with aluminum, which eliminates all antiperspirants and leaves me with only aluminum-free deoderants as a choice.

Ruffalo, nice to meet you but sorry about the circumstances.  The radiation so far for me has been a breeze.  I have had 9 treatments with no side effects.  The treatments themselves are very quick and painless.  I use Calendula gel on the radited area several times a day.  I got it from the Cancer Treatment Center.  It seems to be doing the job.  You will have a great bunch here to hold your hand through anything you need!  We are here for you. 

HUGS!

Janis and Sarahbob I am right between you. Sarah I think you said you've had 7 treatments and Janis 9. I've had 8 treatments.

Suebee, I know what you mean about the markings.  The day I got mine I had worn a v-neck shirt, so when I put it on afterwards, some of the bright blue sharpie lines were visible.  I've been wearing shirts with collars to work, but I have one mark below my neck/above my cleavage that is still usually obvious.  

It would have helped if the women who marked me all up had mentioned something about how the markings would still be seen when wearing clothing.  Did they just assume that because I'm 53 that I no longer care how I look?  I would have appreciated some compassion or something from them for what I was going thru. They just acted like it was no big deal, but I'm sure if any of them had to walk around with this visible sign of treatment, they might feel differently.

I work at an elementary school, and you know kids.  They are very observant.  Several have asked me about this mark they see.  I tell them it's a band-aid, that I had to have some medicine.  A couple of them have given me a look that says, "I know there's more to this, but I can't figure it out."