October 2011 Rads

5kidsmom, I absolutely know how you feel about the damn pink ribbons - just when I am feeling normal, I sometimes see some pink ribbon or pink water in some fountain or pink products in the store and it makes me feel grumpy. I feel a lot of guilt about being so emotional, because I know I am one of the lucky ones. I don't need chemo and I just had a lumpectomy and DCIS isn't invasive and mine was small and not multifocal. But I do not feel lucky right now, just really sad. And embarrassed because I am very teary, sometimes having to hide it at work. I am dreading rads all out of proportion to what it is, because I know there are some people who don't have much in the way of side effects at all, like katehudson from the Sept group.

Does anyone know if radiation for breast cancer affects the throat?  I'm wondering about whether I'll have a running sore throat.  Is the throat usually a bit zapped along with the collar bone?

 I'm asking because I think the prohibition on spicy foods and alcohol for radiation therapy may be connected to whether one's throat is going to get zapped.

Natters, it is a dreadful thought. I got all my first info about my rads from md anderson's booklet and in it it twice says no alcohol during rads. I thought of phoning them up for an explanation, but I quickly realized I didn't want to hear it. It just is not advice I am likely to follow. Suppose they said that Rads would make alcohol appear as toxic fumes that can kill cats! I'd be in a real fix. Better not to know. But then i saw something from the American Cancer something and it said no alcohol if you were going to be zapped in the throat or bladder.



That makes some sense, but it is indicative of md a's attitude to alcohol that no one explained that. As far as I can see, the first three really evil things are the devil, tobacco and alcohol.

Hi Everyone,

I'm coming in just under the wire - scheduled to have my first radiation tx on 31 Oct (should I show up in costume?).  I had the planning/marking session today, and simulation on the 27th.  Not sure how many tx I get, but I think she said 6.5 weeks worth?  I'll find out on the 31rst.

My radiation oncologist told me that the worst part of tx would be having to come to UCLA each day - for me - not so much.  I work literally across the street from the rad onc building, at another UCLA facility.  So I consider myself lucky - I'll just be able to pop over during a regular work day.

Today is actually my 2 year cancerversary - I had surgery/chemo 2 years ago, and just recently got a local recurrence on the MX/recon breast.  Since I didn't have rads the first time, they're giving it to me now.

Best of luck to those of you that have already started treatments!

Sue

Hi ladies; hope you are having a reasonably good day with no Rads SEs:-) I am 12 out of 30 rads! So far my appointments have been quick i am in and out in less than 30 mins!! I have scheduled my appt to the end of the day at 4:30pm so that i can go home after. Just like most of you, i feel like Radiations are much harder emotionally!! I feel like i am reminded that i am a "cancer patient" every single day!!! I am starting to experience the fatigue!!! Working Fulltime and having 2 small kids aint helping:-) So far no skin reaction, just a little "bump" on the area/SNB scar, its external, planning to show my RO today (i see him every thurs). I use Miaderm and corn starch ocassinally. I also HATE my commute!!! The center is close to my house (abt 20 mins drive) but i work in the city and live in the burbs, sooo i have to leave work at 3pm catch a train (20mins) then get off take my car, drive for another 30-45mins to the center!!! I literally pass my house on the way:-(

I meant to say that the RO commented that sometimes radiation can be even harder to deal with than chemo, because it's a part of every single day, and it goes on for weeks, and by now, we've already had cancer for a while, so it's starting to get old. He was pretty cool about it all. I know that six weeks will fly by, especially as holidays approach, so here goes!

abetellik.  I too have worn a bra throughout and have my last rads tomorrow.  No problems.  Would be more problematic to not be wearing a bra. Particularly while horseback riding .  Like some of the others I have the scrip for Tamox, but MO suggested waiting until after rads to start -- for no particular medical reason, just to have a break.   

Marni -- welcome -- I'm barely ER positive (3%), but negative on the rest.   

Natters -- It's not just you.  I've been more emotional these last couple of months, and reading the various threads, you'll see the same comment from others.  Hang in there.   Re the heart and lungs -- yes, they're pretty careful.  After my initial set up where I was on my back, they decided to redo it with me on my stomach, due to that very issue.  Others on this thread have noted other techniques that are being used in their situations.  Everyone's situation is different but it it's certainly an issue to raise at your set up next week.   

It's funny how so many of our experiences are different.  I had #4 today, will get my tattoos tomorrow or Monday.  RO didn't want to do them until they made sure everything was going to be absolutely perfect.  I get the bolus every other time, but not for all the zaps, just some of them.  Definitely the node near the collar bone doesn't get it but another place doesn't get it either but I'm not sure where that is.  My neck is getting very tender to the touch but you can't see anything on it.  Not even pink.  Just hurts.  In my case, because I had an MX, they are trying to get the rads on the skin, so my doctor told me to expect a reaction, he said he could almost guarantee I would get one.  I'm still hoping he is wrong!  

Nobody said anything to me about not drinking or no spicy foods and it wasn't in any of the paperwork I got either.  Which is a good thing because chemo took away all of my "sweet" taste buds and only left me with a taste for spicy food!  I don't drink a lot but if I want one, I'm going to have one.  

I get x-rays every other day when I get the bolus, takes a few extra minutes but not too bad.  I have the first appt of the day at 7:45, am usually done and out the door by 8:15 or 8:20 on the bolus days.   

Ceeztheday, I have asked about Vitamin D and was told (by 2 different docs) that the amount in a multivitamin is fine to take but not to take more than that. Don't know if it would apply in your situation, but never hurts to ask the doc.

I am having a lot of acid refulx lying on my back for radiation- maybe this has something to do with why they said no spicy foods? I haven't heard that, nor the no alcohol, although I have read that having alcohol 3 or more times per week ups the recurrence rate by like 30%. So that is not a chance I personally want to take. 

To those of you starting rads soon, I have only had 6 of 33 so far, but I have found this to be much easier than chemo or surgery (although the 3 hours drive each day is killing me!). The nice thing is that we can count it down and then be done. I too don't like facing the cancer every day. I try not to think about it and just focus on the fact that my cancer is GONE and this is just a precaution...hopefully many of you can say the same.

Nans, I also will start rads in November, but am happy to have the October thread to gather what I need to know.
I have so much problem staying still when confined - panic easily - would love to have a water bottle like a camel pack to sip...not much chance of that i'm sure.  hope I can be somewhat upright.  My incision is at the 11 o'clock site and back away from the nipple - lump was not detactable by any doctor.  no nodes, so am hoping it won't be too long and maybe from the top angle.  i will find out next week...have already been told over the phone to take sedative for anxiety.

Anyone else with claustrophobia and anxietey getting used to it?  I pray that I can take it in stride.  Best to all for this part of the journey.

Joan

Joan811 - Oh yeah, claustrophobia and anxiety are in turbo mode these days! I took an ativan before my planning appointment at 11 yesterday...and by the time I was in the CT machine at 1:30 I was trying to ask the nurse to get another one out of my purse...Fortunately the CT only took a few minutes, and they moved me around enough that I was okay!

Abatellik - my MO recommended 1000 units of vitamin D3 a day, but my nurse midwife said 6000. I'm going with the MO. 

So tired, but trying to enjoy this little break between final chemo and radiation. I've only got one drs. appt next week, pre-op for having my port removed on the first. It's going to feel like a vacation! 

Today is the day I pick out my puppy!!!!!! So excited! 

Marthah thanks for sharing that link... my sister called me last nite to view that story but by the time i turned on the TV it was over:-) am at work too:-)

Good day All!

I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in May and have gone through radiation very well.  Now it is October and they found a very small site 3 mm on the other breast.  Has anyone else had this happen to them.    I am on Tamoxifen.  Do I have another lumpectomy and radiation?  Can I take the Tamoxifen through radiation again.  If I cannot take the tamoxifen, will that increase the risk of reaccurrence in the breast that had radiation?  Should I just leave it and  hope the tamoxifen will keep the new cancer in check?  I have so many questions on what to do.  If anyone has information on this, I would appreciate it.

kk59jk and mccrimmon, welcome!  I am at the cancer center waiting to be called back for lucky  #13 of 28.  kk, my onc wanted me to start tamoxifen now, while doing radiation, but i am havinf side effects fromherceptin si i wopted to wait until i am done.  i would choose to get the cancer out if i were you whether that means lumpectomy and rads or something else.  take care of it now while it's so tiny.

mccrimmon, are you my buddy from philly?  how is everything going?

I am red, but not dark red and only one small spot that is tender so far.  I am 12 weeks pfc and only have about half an inch of hair   No one said anything specific about weight to me.