August 2011 rads

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  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited September 2011

    Mamav I am with u on the radiation fatigue. Also, mine started the day before boosts. Done with rads on the 19th.

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Good Morning ladies. My last treatment today. Then 5 boosts. I am so thrilled. All they did for preperation is draw a big circle around my incision and have to do the math and put a cone on the machine??? I will lie on my life side with a wedge behind me. So different from what I have read.

    I hope everyone is doing well. Hugs and Prayers, lisa

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited September 2011

    Irw...Big happy dance for you today!  Congrats on going for your last regular treatment.  You are almost done, hurray!  Hoping the boosts go very quickly.  I go for 15 today, so getting there fast!

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  • MamaV
    MamaV Member Posts: 907
    edited September 2011

    So glad to hear everyone is progressing.  I have boost #4 of 8 today.  Because the machine was down one day I will finish next Monday.  Tiredness is much better now that I'm doing boosts (sleeping really late Sat and Sun probably helped too!) 

    Cyborg, you must be about done too right?

    Hugs to all - hang in there!

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    Hi Irw333, They did the same thing to me to prepare for the boosts, but so far they have not said anything about being on my side. For the prep I lied on my back. My last treatment is Thursday, and then 4 boosts starting Friday. I will be done Wednesday Sept. 21. I was a little itchy last night. I took prescription Benadryl, and it put me to sleep without discomfort from an itch.

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  • Beana
    Beana Member Posts: 23
    edited September 2011

    Janis - love this word "easy".  Let's take it easy and make it easy and be easy on ourselves like we're being easy with each other!

    question - do they have to do more or different positioning when the boost time comes?  or is it pretty much business as usual?  i found out yesterday that they do new xrays every 5 visits, which put me in that position for longer again.  so far that's been my only problem - extended time in that position.  it must be bursitis or something - didn't have it before the long positioning visits.

    onward and upward everyone!  if we can do all this, we can do anything!  my hat is really off to those of you juggling kids and jobs. extra best wishes for you!  Jeana

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Jeana I am only speaking for myself. Yes I did get xrays every 5 visits and it does take longer. That tells them they are still on target. In my case my scar is a couple inches from my armpit runs straight down my breast on the right side . They repostioned me to get a better view of my scar and try to relieve some intense pain I have when raising my arm and having to turn my neck. I have hurt that way since my surgery and SNB. My arm will be on my side away from my breast when I get the the boost. So glad to hear everyone is doing well. Take it one day at a time. Will all get there together.....

    Will anyone be taking tamoxifen for 5 years after? 

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  • jaykayjo
    jaykayjo Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2011

    Irw333, yes I will. Can't say I'm looking forward to that at all.

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    I have decided not to do tamoxifen. My doctor told me I have a 1% chance of the same breast cancer returning. He also said I have an 8.9% chance of getting a different breast cancer if I don't do Tamoxifen. He said if I take Tamoxifen I will have a 6.2% chance of getting a different breast cancer. In my case I don't think that 2.7% reduction is worth the side effects. I am going to take an herbal approach. To me radiation is a walk in the park over doing hormonal therapy. 

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  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 999
    edited September 2011

    Hi all, hope your all having a great day, I only have one more regular treatment tomorrorw then 5 boosts and am done like dinner whooo hooooo. Definelty have lobster red boobie and underneath blistered pretty bad but now its just raw. This will soon be over girls CAN YOU BELIEVE IT

    Hugs Kymn

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  • pat01
    pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
    edited September 2011

    Jeana, yes, they did reposition me for boosts.  I think it depends on where the tumor was how they position you.  Instead of having my arm above my head in the cradle, I layed flat with my arm over my head trying to touch the ear on the other side.  They did this because I had good mobility in the arm, and it put the area to receive boosts kind of flat.

    Pat

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  • sarahbob
    sarahbob Member Posts: 131
    edited September 2011

    I too have xrays every 5-6 treatments. Today was #13 (#13 on the 13th! LOL!). I still have no redness, tenderness. I am a little achy and tight feeling across my whole chest, but nothing intolerable. The RO is very pleased (and I think a little surprised) that I have no redness yet.

    I also am scheduled to do Tamoxifin (or another similar drug) after I finish rads. I will talk to the MO about it more, but since I was VERY strongly ER/PR positive, I think I will be better off to do it......I was 90% ER+ and 99% PR+!!

    I will have 8 boosts after I finish the 25 reg txs. Since I had a MX, I wouldn't think I would be repositioned, as my scar goes from my breastbone to my armpit.

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  • MamaV
    MamaV Member Posts: 907
    edited September 2011

    Don't fear tamoxifen - my ER+ was also nearly 100% so my MO had me start it 2 weeks after chemo - didn't even want me to wait until rads were over!  Coming from someone who couldn't handle taking Birth Control pills to regulate my period years ago ... I can honestly say tamoxifen isn't bad at all.  Started out hot flashing all over the place, but after 2 weeks that slowed wayyyy down - especially now that it's not 100 degrees outside!  Sometimes I get a little stiff if I sit in the same position (like with my feet under me or something) for a long time, but that's it!  I too was afraid to take it, but my MO convinced me to give it a try - I could always quit!

    I suggest not fearing it - we all react differently and you can always stop taking it if you are miserable!

    Off to boost #4 - then 4 to go and I'm done with 9 months of cancer treatments!

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  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 999
    edited September 2011

    OH god I am soooooo tired today booo hoooo I want to go home I dont want to workCry. sorry your the only ones who will listen lol no one else I am sure wants to hear me whine

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  • lynniea
    lynniea Member Posts: 611
    edited September 2011

    I had #8 today

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Kymm hang in there we are almost finished.    Tongue out    MamaV Thank you for that I have been really dreading going on the drug. I hope it is not to bad...9 months you are one brave, couragous lady. I am so glad you are almost finished....

    I managed to ask a few questions today. I found out I am not having the bolus thingy/gel pad b/c I had a lumpectomy. If you have your whole breast removed they have to build you up with the pad b/c there is nothing there. So you don't get as much radiation.

    I was also told today something I did NOT know. For 2 weeks after radiation it still works. You will not get any worse. Or any better b/c it continues to work for those 2 weeks. Anyone else heard this?

    Congrats lynniea!  

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    I can see the finish line. I have 2 regular and 4 boosts to go. Irw for 2 weeks after radiation what still works????

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited September 2011

    You are almost done there Kate.  Soon it will be behind you.

    MamaV...I am thrilled you are almost finished.  You have really had a long haul.  Now hopefully you can focus on just getting your life back. 

    Lynniea....how are you doing?  Is everything going well for you? 

    Kymm...so sorry you are so fatigued!  I had a very tired day too, but I think DH and I may be battling a bug of some kind.  I have not been feeling very well and neither has he.  I had a nap this afternoon, very low energy today.

    IRW......I have heard that the side effects from radiation can last a couple months past the actual treatments. 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited September 2011

    2 Weeks post rads and still not all healed. But, I was well enough to walk up a mountain trail to go see a waterfall in the Smokey mountains yesterday. It was awesome!

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  • lrw333
    lrw333 Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2011

    Merilee missed you but so glad your having a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing that. You inspire me so much...

    Kate the radiation stays in you and continues to work for 2 weeks after you finish treatment. That is how powerful it is. Then they told me I would start to heal. They said I could even still have new  blisters come up for those 2 weeks....

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  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2011

    Irw I asked my doctor today how long after I am done with radiation will I experience skin side effects, and he said a week. Did you read the private message I sent you? I feel fine from radiation today, but I have either a bad cold or the flu, and I feel yucky from that. It is always something lol.

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  • ann329
    ann329 Member Posts: 38
    edited September 2011

    #23 today.  5 regular and 5 boosts to go!!  woohoo!  Laughing  Everyone is getting so close - I'm doing a happy dance for all of us. 

    I am facing Tamoxifen next too.  Can't say I'm looking forward to it, but feel it's necessary to protect my other breast...  I was highly ER/PR positive - >90% for both.  Mama - many many thanks for the positive reinforcement. 

    Kym - we definately understand!!  (((hugs))) girl!!! 

    Ann

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  • lynniea
    lynniea Member Posts: 611
    edited September 2011

    Hi Ladies I am doing well.  I am also doing lymphadema treatment.  I hope that will be done soon.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited September 2011

    Glad to hear everyone is progressing and close to done, there is light at the end of the tunnel

    !

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  • bb226
    bb226 Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2011

    Hi everyone. Soon you will be done. I wanted you to know that I also have started tamoxifen and so far no problems. I am also going to try it. If the SE becomes too bad, I am coming off it. My MO said that MANY people do not have SE or just minimal SEs. It is worth a try for me.

    Happy Wednesday.

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  • lynniea
    lynniea Member Posts: 611
    edited September 2011

    I had my 9th treatment today and feel good so far.

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  • jenny12000
    jenny12000 Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2011

    Hi, Ladies, is anyone suprised by the cost of the radiation? I was checking my insurance claims and it looks like the cost of each single radiation treatment is about $1,200...wow! 5 minutes of the treatment, the cost is that much?? This really surprised me a lot!   

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited September 2011

    Jenny

    That is shocking. I know when I saw the insurance payment for Neulasta shots I about fell out. $8500 each and I had 6 of them

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  • SAB
    SAB Member Posts: 1,498
    edited September 2011

    Hi all.  Plodding along at #7 today, quite red already (started out pink.)  

    Lynniea,  I am also going in for breast lymphadema clinic; now after 4 weeks of antibiotics they think that's why I was red.  Surgeon said it is not infection, and not cancer.  OK, those other two possibilities makes lymphadema sound good!

    Merilee and Jenny the costs are shocking.   Did you look at the bill for Oncotype and BRCA?  My heart goes out to uninsured women...even with (bad) insurance this will be very tough for me and my family but without insurance it would surely bankrupt us.  I was thinking about that the other night when an audience member at the pres. debate said that uninsured people should die.

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  • Kymn
    Kymn Member Posts: 999
    edited September 2011

    Hi girls, had my last full breast radiation today my breast looks like a rock lobster lol. Just 5 boosts to get through dont know how I am going to stay awake aarrggg so want to leave work and get in my jamies and go to bed

    hope you are all doing well yeah for all nearing the end.

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