October 2011 Rads

Beaglesgirl - thanks for putting it in perspective for me  - you are right, we have all been through so much, this to shall pass!  I had the "bee sting" (more like a wasp sting), when I had radioisotope injected in my breast for SNB - The tech told me it would be painful, but it was not bad at all.

Mccrimson- I just looked at the research study summary - the Cytoxan and Rheumatix have been shown to prevent the formation of new blood vessels in cancer, so hopefully it will work that way for me and many others. The aspirin is given to prevent blood clots (that's a liitle scary as they do not go into much detail - I will definitely ask them about that part!). Siimilar studies have shown no significant effect on recurrance - oh well, even if it does not work for me, my arthritis may feel better for awhile from the Reumatix (lol).  I do admit that being closely monitored for two years for the study is a bit comforting.

Robyn and llml005- thank for your input - I really appreciate it. I am still in the routine of many med people looking at my exposed breast, so it will be par for the course.  

Well, I finally went in for my planning appt and it was so short! I thought it would take hours but it was only maybe 30 minutes. They took a pic of my face for my file, then some people drew on my chest with a sharpie, and then they did a CT scan. Joan, I didn't have to hold still for too long, so it wasn't bad at all. Of course, I did get teary because I've been such an emotional wreck lately I tried not to cry hard so they wouldn't have to redo the scan.



Afterward, they gave me a little smock top thingy to bring home and it's mine to wear during rads. I can wash it or whatever myself, and it fits me a lot better than the giant hospital gowns because they came in every different size. Next time I go, I can change into my little top, then when I go sit down, they'll know I'm ready for my appointment. I like that I can wash it with my detergent, so it will smell like home and less like hospital - you know? And they let me choose which one I wanted, in terms of pattern and style, and it's such a small thing, but it gave me a little feeling of control.



The tech told me they don't like to make tattoos until later, after they check to make sure they are getting the right areas. I'm not allowed to scrub my chest with a washcloth, but otherwise the

Sharpie marks are expected to survive my showers...I'm not surehowlong it will be before my tattoos.and I'm not sure if my next appt is the real deal or just a simulation, so I might call tomorrow and ask. I was too emotional to ask this time.



I start next Monday - Happy Halloween! Maybe somebody will start a Nov board? We will be the Countdown to Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah group.



Nat

Thanks for chiming in, Dawmson - My oncology team knows a lot more about my grandchildren than they probably want to, but you are right, the talking does help get us through the tough times. So far, my med team has been great. 

Had #20 of 34 today.  Saw RO.  She is concerned with how red my skin is getting.  She is going to let me have two more treatments and then see me again on Wed.  I was so upset.  I don't want any treatment delays.  I soooo want this over.  It is red, but no blisters or peeling.  I keep putting my aveno on 4x/day.

Hi ladies. I had my #1 of 25 today.  It was OK apart from feeling a tiny bit claustrophobic.

I am having 4 sites treated so it took longer than I expected.  I was on the table approx 20 mins by the time they were done.  It took a while to position me and line up tattoos. They then did one type of radiation for 3 sites and then put an attachment on the machine for last part. This was to the chest wall and a "gel" type square was put directly onto my chest. The radio goes through that.

I'm glad I've started so I can start counting down.

Hi everyone

Glad to find this conversation...Marthah, was it you who suggested it on another thread?

Anyway, it helps to read all your stories. I have my tattoos already & go tomorrow for the dry run. I've been more apprehensive about this than I was about surgery. I hope I get a smock (I want a pink one). I am having 34 treatments lasting until Dec. 12. With so many zaps, I'm worried about the SE. I have fair skin and large breasts. And Pekjug3, I'm glad to hear you healed up so well after some nasty burns. I feel encouraged. I wish I didn't have to spend Thanksgiving in the middle of this.

I appreciate all the advice on creams and lotions. Thanks.

Thanks Elizabeth...I'll look it up. I expect everything to go well, but I'll hedge my bets.

My RO recommended OTC Eucerin cream twice daily. Nothing else yet....I have had 11 of 33 with just a little redness and somewhat tender scar and nipple area.

For those of you dealing with claustrophobia (including me)... I have had no problems with the actual treatments (they are really quick). I get a little scared on the days when I have to have x-rays to check my alignment, but you are never closed in, you just have to stay still for a longer period of time. But, what has eased my fears is that I have the same group of techs everyday and they are so sweet and understanding.They practically run back and forth and talk to me as much as possible the whole time. I also expressed my fear with my RO on Dr day last Tues (hoping that he will come quicker when paged : )....   I hope this eases some of your fears. 

I had #1 of 30 today. I'm glad to finally get things started. It wasn't too bad. I think my breast feels a little tingly and achy. I was told to use Aquaphor, Udderly Smooth or 100% Aloe Vera gel later on. Overall, it wasn't too bad. They did a couple of films and tattoos today so it took a little longer.

Mostly Sew--LOL on the gold plated machine!!  This is what was billed by the hospital, I'm finding that what my insurance actually pays is usually much less.  Very interesting to see.  My surgery was billed at close to $40,000 but the insurance paid only $6,000. . . . seems like that was a little low for all they did!  MX, SNB plus all the scans, the actual surgery 24 hrs in the hospital etc etc. 

Today I got a surprize at my appt: they therapists all sang happy birthday to me   The actual birthday was Saturday, and they apologized all over the place for not having sung yesterday or Friday.  Apparently they tried to sing yesterday, but I got dressed and left so fast, they missed me!  So glad that the people at this place are so kind, makes such a difference!  Where I got my chemo, they were also very, very kind, and I was thinking I couldn't find anyone like that again!  My surgeon's office on the other hand. . . . they were at the other end of the "kindness scale".  ugh.

5kidsmom,  Happy Birthday!!!  That was very nice.  Do you have to confirm your birthdate with every appointment/treatment?  I am getting so tired of that, but on the plus side, they couldn't possibly miss my birthday.  However, mine isn't until January, so I will be done before that.  Hope you had a nice b-day!

Paintingmywaythru, a supersize bottle of denial coming your way!  What ever you need to float your boat, nothing wrong with a little bit of denial.

pejkug3, thanks for the encouragement!  Your comments are much appreciated.  That nipple story sounds scary.  Did it end up okay?

Had #15 of 28 today, over half way done!! WooHoo!  I am red under my arm, no peeling or blisters and RO said it was within the normal range.  Also, really patchy red and itchy on top of the breast.  They gave me 1% hydrocortozone cream for the itch.  RO said that is common on areas that were exposed to sun.  Breast is not very red except around the scar which is where my nipple used to be.    Hope I can get thru the second half without much more damage.  Hang in there everyone, we'll get thru it.

I lie almost completely flat.  The table can be lifted to a lot of different inclines.  I think I am at the lowest incline.  They made a cast of my head and arms at my simulation and I fit into that at each treatment. 

I pick a new gown every tx.  They have about 12 private dressing rooms stocked with them, they have three sizes.  After tx, stick it in the hamper in the dressing room and get changed and leave.  On RO days though (Mondays), I get a heated gown from the heated drawers in the exam rooms. 

Regarding costs, not sure what rads cost, but I saw my surgery and hospital stay cost $96,000 (that is what insurance paid).  I had uni MX and DIEP reconstruction and stayed in hospital for 5 days.

Did anyone else get pink tattoos?  Some of mine are pink and a couple are blue.  They put the pink ones up high where they might show so they almost look like freckles, I can't even find them.  The blue ones are a bit easier to see.  

Wow...It's been so helpful to read everyone's stories today.

I had my first treatment, this one without the zap. It took about 30 minutes. When the tech asked if I needed anything, I said "Yes. A pinafore." He's so young he didn't know what that was, but they covered me with warm blankets. I got marked up with a livestock marker (just joking, it was actually disappearing ink and the marks were gone when I got home.) I think they just put them on to take a photo of the area to be treated. Tomorrow, the real thing starts and I'm starting to realize just what a time committment it is.

It's so good to know that we're all in similar boats...we can raft together and toss the burn cream to each other. Thanks.