Sept 2011 Rads

Kate, I can imagine how thrilled you are being finished today.  Excellenet news!!!!  Hopefully the rash will subside soon and won't give you any problems.

gogirls...I have no idea why they are keeping tape on you.  I think they used tape to initially mark my areas but I have never had to keep it on.  They use a Sharpie on me and ask me not to wash it with soap, but as it wears off they just mark it again.  No tape.  I guess everyone does it differently.  Can you ask your RO about the potential skin irritation?

Hope you all have a great day!

katehudson, thank you so much for continuing to come on here and post about your lack of SEs because that really gives those of us who haven't started or who have just started some hope that we can get through this with minimal fuss and pain. 

stephN, I am with you. The only thing that has made me cry through all of this has been the visit with my RO. Biopsy and surgery, while not fun, were OK and I soldiered through with the support of my family. Started taking the Tamox the same night I got the script. But rads....ugh. The RO was just so negative about it, saying things like "oh you won't want to exercise or wear any tight bras one week into this." Although he did minimize the risk of fatigue. He said it depends if you are low-energy or high-energy to begin with. And since, like you, I didn't have chemo, I still have plennnnnty of energy. Maybe too much!

But I am going to stick with him, I've decided, because has is supposedly the main "breast guy" at the rad onc dept in the hospital I want treatment from, because it's almost halfway between work and home. I also love his nurse. And my MO didn't recommend me doing the B43 clinical trial. Apparently, he's not a fan so I'd have to see my BS again if I really wanted to try and participate in it. But enough. I just want this to be over and done with.

So I had a talk with the RO's nurse this morning and asked her to find out from my RO how much longer he thought I could keep putting it off. I was really hoping to get another month to enjoy the warmer weather on my new boat, but she made it sound like he would be itching to get me in there asap. My surgery was Aug 18th, so it has been over a month now *sigh* I might need some retail therapy (again) this evening. Breast cancer is hard on my nerves and harder on my pocketbook!

My heart goes out to everyone who is experiencing stress before and during rads.  I felt fine emotionally during surgery and chemo, but I cried so often during rads.  The sadness disappeared the day I finished rads and I hope all of you will have the same feelings that day, too.  Hang in there. It does end and life does get better.

Thanks DivineMrsM and DogEyed for letting me know about the tape, that makes me feel much better!

StephN good luck at the doctor, love the pit hair humor!  As for the weepiness, I also felt fine with everything until I had to do rads (fortunately, no chemo for me).  Before surgery, I knew they would go in and get the cancer, so I was good with that, but before rads I was afraid of what healthy things are going to be damaged in the process. That's the difference (and the stress) for me.

Knowledge is power, thanks for all the posts everyone!

Good morning everyone,



Dogeyed, I'm so sorry your denture thing won't be done in one day. That is disappointing and probably uncomfortable too. Hope you're not in much pain from the procedure. I'm glad your shoulder is better though and you know what to do to help it.



I seem to be the opposite of many of you. I've been teary thru all the surgical appointments (my incision wouldn't heal and I saw the surgeon weekly for 5 weeks before having a second surgery). The minute anyone showed any concern for me, I'd tear up. Silly but I couldn't help it. I learned to carry an Ativan cut in Half in my purse to at least be able to retain some dignity. For radiation though, I've never been that way about it. I've no clue why it doesn't bother me, perhaps because I view it as the last step and that it's eradicating the last vestiges of cancer from my body.



That being said however, I find that as this goes on, and I get more silly side effects, I'm afraid this teary business may show up again. I think it's just that we're under lots of stress trying to manage this complicated business, and our bodies are fighting mightily hard to get well. For myself I intend to concentrate on eating more protein.



Have a great day everyone, and be sure to mark this treatment off your todo list for the day!

I have not had any serious skin SE's at all.  My skin is pretty red now and my nipple is sore, but nothing bad at all.  Mostly just some discomfort.  I don't have any anxiety either going in now.  My biggiest issue still is the pleurisy and the fear it will rear it's ugly head again.  I do not need that.  So far nothing since Saturday and hope it stays that way.  I haven't had a lot of fatigue, although sometimes it pops up and surprises me.  Most of the time not bad at all. 

I feel so bad for everyone who is having a hard time!  Just remember it will be over soon.  Your life will get back to normal.

My navigator asked me to speak to a reporter for the paper regarding the navigator programs in general.  He did a phone interview a little while ago.  I have to go to the BC Center where Nanette works tomorrow.  Reporter will be there to take a picture of us together.  Ugh....I hate having my picture taken!  No.............

Time to party, because I am done, and I have a big glass of Chardonnay in my hand right now to celebrate. Go Girls, Natters, Dog Eyed, Elizabeth1889, Sab, Neece and Janis thank you so much for the good wishes. Go Girls I am glad that you are encouraged because of my lack of bad side effects. I do have a slight rash, and I am a little red, but no exhaustion( I honestly have never felt tired 1 day from radiation),no pain, blistering or peeeling. Natters I especially liked your post regarding my minimal side effect were giving you and others hope for no fuss and no pain. Thank God I did not have to do chemo, and I truly feel for those who had to do it, but it seems that radiation is a breeze in comparison. Janis how sweet of you to post the baloons. I am celebrating alone because like Kymn( although not during cancer treatment) my husband deserted me a few years ago. I will be with friends when I go to Nashville sunday, and then the real party can start. Then when I come home to Santa Monica, Ca. I plan on looking for Mr. right, and hopefully I can find him. The only advice I can give to those who are doing rads, and those who are about to start is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, and keep a positive attitude. I used mostly Udderly Smooth body cream($6 at cvs) and Miaderm. Be well friends, and radiation will be finished before you know it and you can celebrate and party then too. Love, Kate P.S. Kymn I will be thinking of you, and I know God will give you the strength to pull through this without your jerk of a husband.

ceezthe day, yes, that was a perfect hit, I agree.

Kate, I am so proud of how well you handled all this.  Enjoy that wine sweets!  I am really happy for you that you get a few days away.  It will be a wonderful escape and I know you will have a fabulous time.  Glad you liked the balloons.  I thought they were perfect.  You go enjoy your life....but stick around here too of course!  HUGS!!!

Kate I hope you do, you did so well with your rads you can be a real inspiration to others.  I think some SE's are going to happen, but to hear that in some cases it is fairly easy really gives people hope.  You are not done here at all.  You have much to offer and I hope you stay with us.  Hugs to you, and I am really happy you are finished with this part.  Much luck to you! 

Thank you so much Stormy! You ladies have been great!

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and encouraging words! I was still somewhat tense today during my second day of radiation therapy and the tech picked up on this. I think I am making his job harder. Hopefully, I will do better tomorrow.

Thanks again and have a good night.

Dog eyed,

Horrah for you, that's wonderful! How exciting to have all that behind you. And tomorrow when you smile at yourself in the mirror you'll just look and feel great and have one less worry on your plate! Is it smoothies for dinner tonight?

yeah Kate!

Hi stormy,

I take it the smaller breast is the one with the lumpectomy? I've heard that radiation can change the size of the breast (smaller) but am not sure by how much nor if it's permanent. My breast right now is swelling. Not painful but is now back to the size of the non-surgery side which is saying a lot because I had tons of dense tissue removed ( my choice). Hmmmmm



Janis, as a update to the pleurisy thing, my RO is on the side of radiation doesn't cause pleurisy. He says even if he were doing lung radiation it doesn't cause this. He does seem to feel it should be treated agressively though and recommends taking 3 ibuprofen 3 times per day for 2 to 3 days to actually treat the inflammation. He doesn't think I'll have another bout of it, but if I do I should see my primary care dr. He was more than willing to prescribe pain meds so I'd have them on hand if needed. I told him I thought not. He hasn't heard of any other case like this. So, there you have it......you and I are unique. But I bet we knew that.



I think it's a matter of semantics. I agree that the actual radiation beam doesn't actually cause this, as it does the burning of the skin etc. I think the toll the whole cancer treatment thing takes on our body can cause this. And, I'm prone to this already, having had pleurisy attacks before, just not this bad in 45 years. He did say he'd heard of people getting shingles during radiation. I've had those too, but. Ot yet ( knock on wood).



So, there you are! Meanwhile I feel much better. Can take an almost completely deep breath without pain and was able to take strenuous walks yesterday and today with no I'll effects. I've been taking sleeping pills the last couple of. Ights and that has helped along with an increase in protein.



So.....I'm game for more....anyone else want to join the fun?



Peggy who's successfully completed 7 of 33.

Hi Ladies,

 Today was day 7 of 30. 1/4 of the way done, almost.

Kate--Congrats on finishing.

Mostly Sew- I have noticed that my breast is swollen as well. The nipple really hurts. I have a sticker on the middle tattoo. it came off night before last and yesterday when I had rads, it was such an ordeal. 6 xrays and 30 minutes to get me lined up again. 
Ceez, are you taking tamox while having Rads? I was told to wait until I am finished then start. I have already gone through menopause (hysterectomy 12 rs ago) at 39.  But still get hot flashes.

Well, Friday is approaching and I am taking the day off work and going to the beach with my nieces and their little ones.  It's been very hot here in Northern Cali.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow.

Clelia