Sept 2011 Rads

My article reads Chemo Buddies I'm Jean ( aka Gina) . Hope you enjoy, Ashley's strory made me cry she has a little girl. Im glad you all are here for me!!

Had my first boost today - only 7 more to go!

I had to go shopping for a new bra today - I am too sore in certain spots for the one I was wearing, not to mention that my lotions have stained it to the point where I will probably have to toss it.  Settled on a sports bra that fastens up the front.  I figure when this is all done I will toss it, too.

Hang in there everyone!

Oh Stormy. I am so sorry. If that happened to me...arggggg. I have 6 boosts left and if they told me it would be more, you would see me on the nightly news for murder! Hang in there sweetie.

STORMY, I cannot believe this is happening to you!!  WTF??  You posted in here towards the beginning that the radiation people told you 25 treatments with 5 boosts, which is 30 times, so you personal proof of what you heard. 

I'm getting 33 treatments, don't know how many are boosts, but I've heard 33 as the number for some women here.  I may have heard my doc wrong, she told me, but I'm a little out of it.  Anyhow, somehow or other they've got you down wrong from what you were told, and you've indeed wound up with 33.  But looks like when you talk to the doc end of this week, I'm with you, maybe he can figure a way to double up something to at least set you free on a Friday.  Oh, I would cry a river if they changed what I think is my last number.  In fact, I'm a gonna ask my rads doc today, just to be sure.

Well, let us know what he says, Stormy.  I think we should do an occupation of his office if he doesn't work this out for you!  Always, GG

I just came back.  She gave me tylenol#3.  The boosts are in the area that was already red.  For those of you who remember "streaking" as in "We want the naked truth" from Nixon.  I am personally protesting the "possible" war in Iran in light of recent events in my apt. (Sorry if this is TMI)

bedo, you are NOT a wimp!  Not in the slightest!  Rads is tough and personally the pain from my burns is awful.  I had no trouble at all asking for pain meds.  My breast is swollen, red, peeling and blistering and downright raw in places.  You bet I need pain meds.  Yes, clothing hurts.  A lot.  I have not worn a bra in well over a week and probably won't be able to for awhile.  I am 8 days post rads and a loose t-shirt is all I can stand.

Stormy....I totally understand your outrage!  I had the opposite problem.  I was told 33 treatments at my first appointment with the RO.  About my fourth week in on a routine appointment, he told me I was having 30 treatments total.  Hmmmm.  I asked the techs the next day, and they said they were sure he wrote the prescription for 33 treatments.  The next day they said 30...but I am thinking he changed it.  So I got lucky and got less than I expected.  I cannot even begin to imagine what my breast would look like with those 3 other treatments.  Yep time have a chat with your RO no doubt.  Hang in there hon!

sab....hope,courage, and endurance.  Perfect.  I love it, thank you!  We do manage to keep going don't we?

Hugs and love to all..........

I am marking a milestone today - regular rads are done and 5 boosts start tomorrow. The tech told me I could take the tape off today and I did immediately!  Surprisingly, the Sharpie marks came off with the tape!

I'm surprised by the number of us having to correct our docs.  Somehow, mine missed an entire week for me although he was on vacation and I saw another doc during that time.  Just shows that we are smart to pay attention and even smarter to speak up!

Have any of you discussed melatonin emulsion with your doctors?

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/new_research/20101004.jsp  

Hoping your burns feel better soon!!! 

I haven't heard of melatonin emulsion but that study sure looks promising! I'm going to ask my doc about it tomorrow. 

Just finished #2 of 33 so I'm looking for anything I can do that will help.  

Leighsa-I am so worry that happened to you! You're almost there! Hugs.



#30 today, 5 boosts to go. It's a pretty rough road, but at least I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for all your information and inspiration ladies.

Leighsa.....the EXACT same thing happened to me!  I had terrible, unrelenting chest pain and was also told to go to the ER.  After a battery of cardiac tests (normal) they sent me for a CT scan to rule out a blood clot.  That was fine, except the CT scan found nodules on my thyroid.  Sigh.  I was told the chest pain was likely some sort of lung irritation from rads.  When I saw my RO next, he denied it of course.  So frustrating.  It happened again 10 days later and I just stayed home and took pain meds.  I knew what it was at least.  Later I saw a different RO and he said it was inflammation of the lining of the lung.  Pleurisy.  He did say it was from rads at least.  Sheesh!

Now I have had a needle biopsy for the thyroid, mixed results but cancer was listed as a possiblity.  Now i see a surgeon Monday.  I think he will schedule surgery to completely remove the nodules for a proper biopsy.

Oh the burn....UGH.  Leisha just be careful and if it gets bigger ask your RO for some sort of help.  I use Lidocaine for the pain and it helps.  I mix it with Aquaphor.  My burn is pretty large but slowly shrinking.  I have pain meds too for this phase.  I hope you get through this as painlessly as possible!

Everyone please take care, healing hugs to all of you!

Leighsa, Janis So sorry about your troubles.  I hope it will all go away after radiation and Janis good luck with your work up, I'm wishing you the best. 

Dogeyed  Thanks for all your advice, I will definitely get the aloe.  And you gave me an idea!  Once this is all done and the redness settles down maybe I'll treat myself to an all over spray tan so I match!

NeeceeYes I am obsessed,  You're in the home stretch!  Isn't this great?

Leighsa,

I'm so sorry you're having the lung/rib pain. I also got the same thing as Janice, and it's terrible. I'd had it as a teenager as a relapse from pneumonia. Long story short, I had two attacks of it, 11 days apart, and both the RO and my primary care doc recommended ibuprofen. 3 pills 3 times a day. My reg dr. Insisted I do at least 4 full days. I did that the second time around and it did totally knock out the inflammation. It hasn't returned. The sound you hear is me knocking on wood. Good luck to you, that inflammation is quite debilitating when it's in full force.



Side note, for burn pain I'm now using Calendula cream. Works better than Aquaphor, Miaderm or Aloe Vera for me. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Be sure it's the homeopathic version like the

Boron which is a first aid for burns treatment.



Finished 22 of 33 today. The end is almost in sight, thankfully.

Hi Sab,

Glad you like Udderly Smooth body cream. It worked great for me. I never had blistering or peeling.

Geez, I finally am rid of cancer, and side effects, and my back went out. Ouch! I am in pain, and I don't do pain meds. I've had this pain for a couple of weeks thinking it would go away, but it hasn't. I had back surgery, for slipped discs, many years ago, and this pain feels the same, except thank goodness it is not affecting my leg. I quit smoking a year ago, and put on 20 pounds, and this is not helping the situation. I keep trying to diet, but it hasn't worked, because I like my wine, and wine causes me to eat more. I am not obese. I went from 110 to 130 and have a small frame. I haven't called a doctor, because I keep thinking it will go away. The pain is not constant it comes and goes. I am going to see my medical oncologist Thursday, and see what he recommends. Leighsa and Janis I am sorry about your aggravation, feel better soon.