November 2011 Rads

Elizabeth 18 What brand of Emu oil do you use? Is it 100 % emu oil?

Hello to the group. I started Radiation on October 27 and will have 30 treatments total. Hopefully this will all be over by December 8th (looking forward to that day). I thought I would jump in here since I have been lurking during other months.

 My experience so far...after 7 treatments...is not too bad. I did develop redness, bumps and itching after just 3 treatments under and between my breasts. When I brought it up to my RO, they thought I might be getting a yeast infection, but after reading posts here, I wonder if that is true. I am not sure my RO is up front with me as my MO is.

The redness etc. only happens about 1/2 hour after treatment and usually goes away by the next morning. I am large breasted and have been using Biofine and dusting with cornstarch/baking powder afterward. I have found the itching has been lasting longer with each treatment and have stopped using the cornstarch under the breast. I have found some relief when applying pure aloe vera gel after my shower. I noticed last night that I have some peeling in my underarm but have not really been applying the Biofine there. Hopefully all of this is not an indication that I will be having more severe reactions as this goes on.

Today was my 5th treatment.  It takes about 30 min. each time.  I have 11 more to go.

They had a nutritionist talk to me after about 3rd treatment.  She said to eat broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, and cabbage.  She said to lay off the sweets.  Just eat Canola or Olive oil. Eat fruits, lean meats.  NO GREEN TEA.  No multi-vitamin. no vitamin A, C, E

She said to exercise.  Walking is great.  I need to start.

I have a 1 hr trip each way.

I haven't burned yet.  Everything seems fine.  The hospital gave me some medication to start using today.  Use after rads & before bed.  They told me not to use any other creams. 

I hope everyone is doing good.

Hi Dawn - I started taking Tamoxifen before rads and I plan to take it for the next 5 years. A new study came out demonstrating that women who took it for 5 years were protected against cancer for 10 or more years, so that sounds pretty good to me. I don't know how old you are, but I felt that I was WAY too young for surgical or chemical menopause. Some women have side effects on Tamoxifen, but not all. Now compare that to the side effects of early menopause...younger women need estrogen to protect us against heart disease and a whole bunch of other things. Tamoxifen only blocks estrogen very partially, to protect you against hormone-positive cancers, but it lets you enjoy the good benefits of keeping estrogen in your body naturally. 

Good luck today! I felt a little better about rads after I finally got started. At least you will know what to expect every day, more or less. Also, it should take a LOT less time than your dry run because they take X-rays on your dry run day. And you are going to start to see some familiar faces, as the week goes on. Aren't you glad that you can maybe knock out 4 out of your 28 treatments this week? You will only have 24 left, and you will be finished before the holidays.

I will say that I am having more side effects so far from the radiation than from the Tamox, but I guess it varies widely from person to person. I started exactly a week ago, so this afternoon will be number 6 for me (out of 30). My radiated breast was irritated during my morning run, so I may have to start wearing a thin t-shirt between my skin and my bra when I run. My breast looks like it has gotten sun and it's swollen and tender. It's red all the time - even first thing in the morning after a good nights sleep. It's no big deal so far, but I am glad that I only have  2-3 more tx this week, because I'm traveling for work on Thur. 

Suzanne - good luck with that diet! I have to confess I am using rads an excuse to pig out on whatever I want (and subsequently watching my weight creep up). At my rads center, I see information about a nutritionist that is available, but nobody has suggested I talk to one yet. Or talk to a social worker, either, for that matter (other women on here have been approached by SW during rads).

Nat 

Hello Ladies - I'm new to this group. Still checking in with my August Chemo chicks. Just finished my last chemo treatments of 4 X TC on October 27. Halleluah!!!

Next up is 6 1/2 week of RADS beginning Monday, Nov. 14. This will carry me through the last day of the year. What a way to end the year with a bang or zapp!

Had the first part of my dry run yesterday. Had a CT scan and got tatted up. I hate needles but I survived. The CT scan was a million x's better then the MRI I had when this all started. You can say I have a touch of claustraphobia.  

Friday, I will have the official dry run at 11:45am. Should take about an hour. I'm anxious to get it over with. My RO is very nice and easy on the eyes. Still weird to have so many people focussed on my breast. So far the techs have been OK. My only issue is with the timing of the RADS. The doctor's office hours are 7:30am - 4pm. Really! I work 8am - 5pm and had to request a work adjustment. It is just another inconvenience throughout this whole ordeal.

I will let everyone you guys know how everything is going.

On another note, having DH issues. He seems to think that this whole BC is his fault. He says, "If we didn't get married then you would not have gotten on birth control, and then develop uterine fibroids, and then have a hysterectomy and then take the HRT which caused you to have cancer." He is definitely snowballing.  Is anyone else having these issues? The whole thing is making me more emotional than I need to be at this point. Or maybe it is the Arimadex. My Lorazipam needs to hurry up and kick in. hehehehe

Thanks for reading!

Missey29 

  I did my set-up visit today. My place does not do tats so i have 6 Sharpie marks with tape over them. hoping to get my dry run in on Friday and start officially on Monday..

  Missey29-looks like we are on the same schedule so maybe we can be rads twins. My rads office works 8-4 and my work schedule is 5am to 3:30 so I am going to have wo work something out for that also. I told them I absolutly wanted to be done by the end of the year so hoping they get the plan together and call me to come in on Fri.

  I had a great PET scan last week and even though we had discussed trying to hit some of the nodes around the lungs he and the oinc have decided since they are pretty inactive lets just do the breast for now. I am totally OK with that.

  My RO is really cool. He wears earth shoes and a nehru collar jacket and wooden beads. he hasn't said "Groovy" yet but he look like he might.

M4babies... Have you tried hooking your bra one row looser? I had a friend who did that and it helped.



Just came back from my 8th treatment and am having discoloration under my breast and some peeling under my arm. I now have a new routine of 10-15 minute compresses with a solution of Domebro's powder in water followed by air drying and then reapplication of Biofine three times a day. I am tired but really did come into this tired from chemo...could be the time difference throwing me off though. Has anyone else had reactions from rads this soon?

rn4babies - thanks for the info...it's so good to hear 11 yrs...but stinks mom & aunt !!   Have you tried a sports bra that isn't too tight? Or maybe even a cotton shirt under bra, so it doesn't rub?

MrsMot - I also had DIEP and was wondering the same thing?? guess we'll find out...

Rn4babies, your RO sounds a lot like mine. My tumor was left side, back near chest wall, but he dismissed concerns about my heart. He didn't offer respiratory gating or anything like that, either



Kdayjay, my skin started turning pink and becoming sensitive from my first tx, even though I've been faithfully slathering Miaderm 4 times a day. After 6 tx, that breast is red and swollen and sore. ESP my nipple- ow! So glad I only have 2 more this week.



Nat

Is anyone using aloe vera ?  I was giving 100% aloe vera gel..it's sticky until it dries.  And you all seem to be putting it on alot...were you told 4x a day?  I only had treatment yesterday and leaving in few mins for todays.  Do you think it's possible that I could feel tired already?  Last night I was wiped out...but I was also having a slight panic attack(not really) and crying about starting another treatment...well guess I'll see how today goes...hope everyone has a very uneventful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Hi everyone!  I started radiation Tuesday and so far so good.  I have a question - I would love to know when the fatigue really sets in.  I have a big meeting Dec. 8 and am wondering if I should push it out until after radiation.  I am worried though that I may still be fatigued even a month or two after I finish.  Anyone out there who might have an idea?  Thanks!