Sept 2011 Rads

Pam53: After about my first 25 treatments I also had a lot of redness, but burning and pain also. My RO had me take 6 days off, before we started my boosts. It was worth the break I was in a lot of pain though. The boosts were much easier for me! Hang in there, it will be over before you know it!!!

StephN: 6 more that is awesome!!

Hey Janice,

Hope you've got great big pockets for tomorrow, cause we're all joining you for your surgery. Hugs to you .......



StephN,

I spent the last 4 days really bummed about the delay to my boosts, and very nervous about having boosts at 3 angles when rads were only at 2. In the long run though, I will say the RO was right, and my skin looks better tonight, for my restart tomorrow, and what's 2 more days delay in the long run? Hope your meeting went well with your RO today and that you're continuing on. Now I'll justbe two behind!

PAM, oh I know it's awful to hear the words there may be a delay in end time for rads.  My rads doc suggested it when I complained of my skin bothering me, and I about freaked out over the idea of a delay and said, "NO!"  But doc knows best, you've heard all the stories of skin disintegrating and causing problems.  Now, me, I had purple red skin, it was kind of scabbing over at underarm, and within days that skin came right off, pretty wierd, leaving a white area.  Also had a rash down my tummy and up my center chest.  But started boosts this week, it's in a diff place than where the skin came off.  ALSO, my doc prescribed a short-term use of Prednisone, which brought down the burn quite a bit, and I am fine now for continuing, discomfort-wise.  We'll be listening for what will work best for you.

TAM, wow, I'm SO glad for you!  I DID wear my sunglasses yesterday so I would not be blinded by the beautiful sparkling diamond you have become from all this endless cancer routine.  Enjoy the next week, NO MORE dropping everything to go over to rads!  And you are FREE now, of all these terrible upsets in your life, as if you didn't have enough to deal with already.  Best wishes to you!

JANIS, glad they're gonna get your thyroid straight, and if they ask you if you want pain meds, say "YES."  The anesthesia will only carry you so far, so don't be fooled by how you feel when you come outta the op, altho I assume you've already gone thru surgery for the cancer.

FOLKS, did my first boost of five yesterday.  It went well and my red peeling skin feels better with the short-term prednisone I was given.  Even tho I will be free after Friday, I will come back here for the others who are still here.  I still visit my chemo and surgery people, too.  Altho sometimes I think I've become a linger'er with coming here and visiting.  But I do spot that some people in various older forums that it's been two years, like a 2009 bunch, that will still pop up as active in the forums.  GG

Janis, thinking of you today.  Right there with you in spirit, looking forward to hearing from you that all went well.

Tam, congrats!!!  So happy for you that you are done!  Get on with healing and LIVING!

I'm going on with boosts...so far, they haven't been bad.  My incision is red and tender, but what else is new?  I'm also having an MRI on the c-spine this week.  I mentioned yesterday that I hadn't been sleeping well because of neck pain...apparently once you have cancer, it's straight to the scan.  The RO was adamant that he didn't think it was anything to worry about, but we rule out the big baddies first, now.  He's growing on me.  

Mostly Sew, you're going to get there!  So glad your skin is feeling better!

Pam, I know there are others who've started tamox and rads the same day, but wowza, that had to be an emotional slam.  Hang in there...you're getting closer!

Steph 

pam53 - for what it's worth, I spilled more tears over radiation than over diagnosis, surgery, and chemo combined.  There is something about rads that is extremely emotional!

My surgery was cancelled!  I am so upset because we got to the hospital and I was good to go.  Got a nice fat IV poke in my hand and that was painful. IV all set, they gave me an oral pill to take for nausea.  All the routine BP and all that, everything looking good.  The anesthesiologist came in and chatted up, young gal and so nice.  She said as soon as the docotr came in she would be back with "happy drugs".  He came in and we talked, all set to go.  Got happy drugs.  Well, I wasn't happy when right after the doctor came back and told me the surgery was cancelled!  His associate who monitors a machine that measures the nerve pulses...was MIA.  My doctor was so nice and felt so bad but he said he had no choice.  They were clearly worried about the missing man, said he had not shown up nor could they reach him.  How odd.  Anyway that was that.  Got dressed and went home.  He did say we are rescheduling for next Thursday, but DH said the nurse simply told him Thursday.  So, have to clarify that.

Thanks to each and every one of you who have lent support and good thoughts.  I'll save them for next time! 

I completely agree with Natters.  Spoiling yourself is in order.  Hugs!

Mostlysew, I had 7 boosts (28 regular treatments) for a total of 35.  I had 1 tumor removed via lumpectomy and was told the boost was just directed at that one tumor spot.  I had two other "suspicious" areas which turned out to be nothing per se, but no boost to those areas. 

 The regular RT lasted about 20 seconds; the boosts lasted about 50 seconds.  I suspose this varies among patients. 

 Wishing you well. 

Ye gads, JANIS, what an unusual tale!  An MIA on your day.  Hey, I don't drink, but I think I'd have to slosh down SOMETHING if any delay happened to me.  Well, at least it's just the thyroid deal, it can wait.  I'm sure your doc will have a backup next time, they're very good at correcting goof-ups.  Smile.  So many, you know, hoho. 

Three more boosts, folks.  I've been feeling better physically (other than being sore and tired and achy and teary), than I have in years.  I do believe they kilt my cancer and hit t'won't come back no mo.  Phooey on all this cancer routine.  I'M DONE, and will be for sure come Friday afternoon.  GG

Hi everyone.  The guy who was MIA is not a doctor.  My understanding is he is just some guy trained with this machine.  The machine measure the nerve waves and pinpoints the location of the nerves that go to the vocal cords.  He has to be in there to prevent the surgeon from cutting those vital nerves that control speech. 

So I talked ti the nurse today and she indicated there was a communication problem.  The guy who was supposed to be in the OR was out of town.  He said he was having his partner there in his place.  Partner apparently was unaware of this?  Nurse said the guy got a real stern verbal thrashing.  Hope he doesn't decide to take it out on me next Thursday when I am rescheduled,  The 3rd it is now.  Sigh....

cpdsry, congratulations on finishing rads, what a glorious feeling!

Sew and Dogeyed, you are so close!  Can't wait to see you two celebrating! 

SEW and others, yes, it's tomorrow today, Friday, and my last boost is at 1:00, and I will be CURED!  Yes, that is how I think of it, so I won't be worried and hurried by future checkups.  At 1:00, after they blast the electrons on my incision area, I'll say goodbye and walk outta that hospital a new human being, better than before.  I did notice at some point in rads that I felt a lot better, even better than before this whole thing started.

EXCEPT for the burn, tho, good grief, it's so tight and purple and kimono dragon under my armpit, skin slipping away like paint chips, kinda sore, you know.  But I have my prescription cream, Radiaplex, and that stuff works wonders.  Every radiology department in the world should have that stuff.  It's the only thing I used during the whole rads thing.  Towards the end they gave me Prednisone to knock back the inflammation, really helped with prickly pain that was starting up.

"I was sick, and He healed me," as the Scripture says, and for this moment in time, I am healed.  Thank you, ladies, for taking me in, visiting me when I was sick, and speaking the truth as I did to you, and our hearts will be together for always, as we spin off into the universe in our own wonderous ways.  Always, Gail

Congratulations Dogeyed!

Congratulations, Gail!  You have a fantastic attitude.

Gail and Steph Congrats to both of you!

Today is my last treatment!  I can't even believe it's nearly over.