Sept 2011 Rads

Dogeyed, welcome to September rads!  I started in August so I still post a bit over there.  Hopefully rads will be gentle to you.  Tomorrow I go for #14 out of 33.  So far I have been fine as far as skin goes.  A little irritation but nothing serious.  I did have that strange bout of incredible chest/rib pain that sent me to the ER.  That is where the CT scan found my two thyroid nodules.  I am waiting for the results of my ultrasound.  Should hear later this week.  Anyway, welcome to the club!

vickilf, sorry you have to go through all of this with two different cancers!  Do you mind if I ask what else you are dealing with?  Sending lots of healing hugs to you. 

Good Morning ladies, I start Rads on Tuesday. A little nervous and anxious at the same time.  I am pretty bummbed that I wount be getting the Herceptin but, they know what they are doing, right?  I just want to get this all over with. I hope you all have a wonderful day wherever you are. I am going to enjoy the Northern California fog for now and the sunshine when it decides to make an appearance.

Clelia

Hi dogeyed,

I start my radiation wed 9/14 also and " dry run" the day before. So, we're on the same schedule and can compare. I, fortunately, didn't have to do chemo for which I'm so thankful. All you gals that have been thru that too are my heroes. I don't know the exact number of sessions I'll have, but know it involves whole breast radiation and some number of boosts and will probably take 6 1/2 weeks.

I am so glad to get this part started. For me, it's always seemed like the light at the end of the tunnel. Silly me, I was even marginally looking forward to my tats, kinda like a badge of courage. Well, they just plain don't show. I can only find the one under my arm. A friend suggests I get a "real" one after I'm all done, but I think that's going too far.

I think my only concern right now is this sport bra business. I'm quite large breasted, and sport bras do nothing except squish my boobs onto my chest, and I don't think that's quite the idea. I'm quite happy not wearing a bra, but them I've got even more skin to skin contact. Guess I'll just buy stock in cornstarch and hope for the best. Anyone else got Amy ideas about that one?



Peggy ( lumpectomy 7/7 , re-excision for non-healing tissue 8/15, radiation start 9/14).

Rads got postponed because I'm not healed up enough from surgery. Now I have my set up appointment on Sept. 19th and will start sometime after that.  I really just want to get this show on the road!

For anyone doing chemo after, did your doctor say how long between radiation and start of chemo?  I am going to ask my doctor to give me about 3 weeks so that I can have Thanksgiving with family before starting more chemo. 

justmejanis - Thank you very much for your encouraging words. Much appreciated.

ashleere - welcome!  You are not too far behind some of us.

blondelawyer - I did chemo before rads and they suggested 3 weeks between to give the system a chance to process the final chemo dose.  I would think you could roll over from rads to chemo in about the same time.

justmejanis - believing with you that it is nothing!

Stormy,

That is what we are here for, to help each other get though all of this.  I so appreciate all the advice and support I have received here.  This is a great group.  We can always find some good old fashioned cheer here when we need a little jump start.  We are the BC sisters indeed! 

Neecee, no worries here at all.  Just have a good feeling about this!  Thanks for the warm thoughts.

I hope everyone is doing well tonight and you had a great day. 

Stormy good question and I am not sure.  I have a BC book that says not to take Vitamin D supplements during radiation.  I believe that is the only vitamin it says to avoid.  I think you should ask your RO to be sure.  I am not sure the techs are the best source of information.  It is confusing, there is a lot of conflicting information out there.

I was told that you shouldn't take large doses of antioxidants during rads, but that other vitamins are okay.  I have a high dose of Vit. D on my med list and my RO didn't say to stop taking it.  I'll double check though.

SAB...good to see you!  I started rads in August and finish the first week of October.  I am all over the place!  I hope sll is going well with you.  I go for # 14 today.  So far so good! 

blondelawyer...my MO told me prior to rads that my Vitamin D level is low, but he did not tell me how much to take or when.  I am going to have to ask my RO when I see him Thursday.  I won't see my MO until October. 

Thank you all for the responses on the Vit. question. I guess Im safe as I'm not taking mega doses.  I will still ask my RO this coming Friday.

I have 7 treatments left, 3 regular and 4 boosts. I am still feeling fairly good. I am just a tad bit sore and itchy, but not bad at all. I can see the finish line yeah!

Ceeztheday,

I have only had 3 treatments and had that pain after the first one, it has gotten more frequent now.  When I asked about it, I was told it was the nerve endings healing after my surgery. I thought it was odd timing but excepted it. My surgery was 5 weeks ago. Now that I am hearing more say the same thing I think it has more to do with the radiation. Either way, it is what it is, we will get past all of this.

I had today off because my radiology place was getting new computers today. Tomorrow its back on the schedule. I must say I've enjoyed the normal day of work and then home, even had time to make dinner.

Keep your on!

Stormy123-my RO actually sent me for bloodtests specifiaclly for my Vit D level. Also some sort of estriogen test and a few other things I had not been tested for before. He said definitely continue taking vitamins and supplements-I am not taking anything out of the ordinary. He is expecting my Vit D to be way low and we will be discussing it when I get started. I am still in limbo til my BS releases me. He is into holistic and integrative therapies. Also an accupuncturist. He has creds from major universities in these things and is very interesting guy. I wish I had met him earlier in my treatment.

   I will post whatever he ends up telling me to take.