October 2011 Rads

I just finished radiation Aug 26th and I will tell you for me it went so smoothly and I had no discomfort at all, maybe a little more tired but nothing I could not deal with.  I am 70 and very active.  The one thing that I think helped me keep strong and heal well was the facrt that I went to the gym at least 5 times a week.  I did not do upper body exercises but used the  cardiac machines.  It really kept me strong.  I started about two weeks before the radiation treatments after I healed from the lumpectomy.  Also before I went to exercise I used Eucerin AQUAPHOR Ointment on my breast and with the perspiration and the ointment it keep my skin real healthy.  At night I would use Eucerin original lotion.  Hope all goes as well for you.

I drank red wine through radiation and the doctors said that was fine.  I had not issues with the throut.

mforbabies - ask away! Thinking about that first treatment is scary and stressful, so I hear you. And check out the Sept 2011 forum if you want to hear stories from women who have already gone thru radiation. 

nans - there's a huge list of questions here: http://tcrc.acor.org/radquest.html. You might scare your doc if you ask all of them But I found it really helpful when I was doing my first couple meetings with my RO.

mccrimmon324 - welcome to the group! I'll be finishing up at the end of November so I'll be around here for a good long while.

Had #8 of 33 today and a checkup with my RO, who said my skin looks great so far. I've been hyperaware of how it feels and looks and asked him a bunch of questions. Then he looked at me and said, "Normally I want people to be hyper aware of their skin. But if anyone should be less concerned, I think it should be you." LOL. He has my personality pegged so well.

I did have a stressful day yesterday when my boss saddled me with this extra project that HAS to be done by end of year. He knows I'm in radiation and he's willing to let me give up some of my other projects to make up for it, but he wants to know how much I want to give up and how much I think I'll realistically be able to do, workwise, over the next several weeks.

I don't know what to tell him. How do I know how I'll feel over the coming weeks, if I'll be tired or sore or need to take days off or whatever? I don't want to overpromise and then not be able to do the work. It's frustrating because my company has been so good to me over the past few months and this is the first time I'm in a situation where I feel stressed about getting my work done. Anyone else struggling with this?  

I'm looking forward to the weekend break from treatments. Have a good weekend everyone!  

kk, Amen!! Thanks for the recommendation. The Lord is the only One who has been able to keep me going through all this (and the awesome support I've received from my Christian brothers and sisters).  This especially has helped me: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (even 8 chemo rounds, a double mastectomy, and 33 rounds of radiation. Not to mention Herceptin and 5 years of Tamox! No way I could do this alone)...

Vivaj, Wish I had some advice to help. I have only had 7 treatments so far and no issues like you are describing. Seems like they should be able to prescribe you something or recommend something OTC- I don't personally think we should be in any more pain then we have to be with all we are going through!!

For those just starting, I just wanted to encourage you that so far I have found radiation to be the easiest step as far as side effects (but definitely the most inconvenient) and haven't felt claustrophobic at all- you are never "inside" anything- you just have a machine that moves around you but only on one side. Also, you always have the option of closing your eyes if that helps you (I do, even though I know it is silly- I know the radiation won't hit my eyes,  but I still close them anyway :-)). Hope this helps at least a little.

dawmson - My boss finished radiation in January, it was her only necessary treatment after surgery. She worked 6 hours a day right until the last week or two. From my own perspective, having a specific project to concentrate on might be good, a focal point. I'm really struggling with some routine stuff through the end of my chemo right now. I play with lots of work, but never seem to accomplish anything. My goal is to be back on my feet/at the top of my game for a couple of weeks starting Monday. We'll see how it goes!

joan811, i understand our anxiety.  i felt the same with the mri.  the techs talked to me the whole time so i was okay.  radiation (other than the initial set up) is really quick.  it's only a few minutes.  but i was told they can see you and talk to you.  would you not feel s oconfined and alone if someone was talking to you?  I am sure they would do that for you,  they also play music and you can bring your own cds if you want.  talk about your fears, we will help you and so will your docs and techs.  you aren't the only one with these fears having radiation.  it will be okay. (((hugs))) 

I,  like you, exercised regularly and I believe it helps your body and MIND heal.  Also so the breast is not irriatated, my radiologist told me to wear only cotton bras because they let the air to the breast to heal.  As far as the actual radiation, I was not enclosed at all.   A screen just went around me to the spots to be radiated.  I never had pain or discomfort.  Maybe I was lucky.  I felt the fatigue the last week during the boost.

vivaj what kind of surgery did you have?  I'm also pretty stiff but more in the underarm/shoulder area.  I had a mx and don't think my surgeon did a good job.  That entire area has been feeling tighter and tighter.  In fact, I had one small area that had just healed in Sept, and now it's open again.  ugh. 

 maybe the stiffness is both from the position of your arms and some swelling or skin tightness?  I'm thinking that having to take a pain pill probably isn't normal and you might want to ask about it Monday.

Hello to all - I will have my simulation tomorrow - I am a nervous wreck today - I cannot sit still. I already did five loads of wash for my daughter in law, walked my son's bull dogs and walked my daughter's dog. They know I just have to keep busy today, so they say "thanks" and leave me alone. Hopefully I will be exhausted enough to sleep through the night. I just want to get the first appt. over with.

Sher 

Shirleta, I see by your stats at the bottom you are TN too, did you also have chemo?  I start my rads on the 28th and have to say I've been thinking this will be a breeze compared to chemo.  Good luck tomorrow. 

Hello McCrimmon - Thanks for your response and good wishes - same to you! I had AC and then Taxol, dose dense, to attempt to shrink my large tumor - I feel very fortunate that it worked. My tumor shrunk 90% -- I had a lumpectomy done a month ago and drove myself home the day after. I also feel fortunate that my lymp nodes were negative - but, my post surgery path report states that the effect of chemo was "moderate" and that I may have "metaplastic" cancer. Due to these findings, I was invited to join a research project following chemo. I accepted the invitation and will be taking Cytoxan, Rheumatix and Aspirin, daily, for 16 weeks, in hopes of stalling off recurrence. It is worth a try. 

 'Best wishes, 

Sher 

tattooing was nothing more than the tech pouring a littlin ink on the spot and the poking me with a needle like for an IV. It took one second. after all we've been thru with other procedures I'd put that waaaay low on the discomfort scale. If you have any pain meds left over call them to see if you can take one before your appt. just in case for your lumpectompy site.

Or an ativan for the anxiety of the whole thing. whatever will help you thru it sweet lady. after you see how it's not that bad, the rest won't cause you so much stress.

Shirletta -I was SO STRESSED over the simulation, tattoos, mapping, CT, etc., and it pretty much turned out to be a breeze. I really didn't have any trouble, except that I've been out of the habit of exposing my breasts again for a while now, but an ativan ahead of time really took care of that. Even when the dr. drew on me like a 3yo w/a sharpie. I had 4 tattoos...they look like blackheads, so nothing huge. I did find that they stung quite a bit, but they're over with in a second, literally, and the pain goes away right away. I was so stressed over this appointment, and felt silly afterwards. Now I just wish they'd call with my actual schedule! 

Shirleta - I ended up having tatoos twice (a total of 7). The first time I was a bit leery, but the second time I knew it was no big deal. As others have said, a sting for a few seconds. 

Dawmson -- Yes I too struggled with not knowing how I would be feeling and what work to take on.  In the end my boss just removed me from a couple of projects.  I was grateful, but also a bit worried that maybe my performance had sufferred and that was why she lightened the load. But in the end, other than certain days where I was quite tired, I was mostly ok.