December 2011 Rad

Michelle and Ann, thank you for your replies.



Michelle I too am angry about the TEs. I definitely felt "talked into", and unfortunately was alone during my visits. The bs was also under the impression prior to surgery based on my MRI that I would most likely not need chemo/rad. I was under the impression that I would NOT get the expanders if node involvement was found.



My poor family listens to me complain more about these darn peace robbers than anything. They make my arms numb and my pec muscles spasms constantly. I knew I would hate them.



I have refused fills and agree with you, I can feel the fluid moving around and cant understand how

they would not interfere with rads.



I will def push for removal prior to rads.



Thank you so much and Ann good luck with your rads and future reconstruction and Michelle you too!

Michelle- Thank you!

Windlass - I am with you 100%

Ann Alive - Even though I will begin my rads on January I also joined this threat because I was in a threat with a lot of these women during chemo and I missed their wisdom, courage and good heart. My RO answered the same as yours: What's to aim at for the boost? I do not have enough info, but I know that if I insist I can get the boost, but... do I want it?

Secretfardn - I had the same chemo treatment (4 AC followed by 12 Taxol).  I highly recommend you to read the threat June2011 AC & T Groupies Unite! and please do not hesitate to send me a PM if you have any questions. While on chemo I didn't read anything about radiation and I think that was a mistake. I had my first appointment with my RO 3 weeks before I finished chemo (11/29/2011). AnnAlive is completely right about the TE and radiation. When I met with my PS 8 months ago, he explained to me with details the procedure and he decided to perform a "special" surgery in case I would need to have radiation.  They place the TE underneath the muscle and add a piece of "skin cadaver" to support and protect the TE from the radiation. The fills are not painful, but the TE is uncomfortable. They filled most of my TE during chemo and PS finished filling completely 1 months ago (for all the reasons AnnAlive explained). Well, one week ago my RO suggested that the liquid of my TE should be removed (not the TE just the saline), so my skin doesn't get too damage (basically just cosmetic reasons). Well, if the TE does not interfere with the main purpose of the radiation and my RO wants it removed for cosmetic reasons, he should discussed it with my PS as I asked him to do it 2 months ago!!! Anyway, he finally called and my PS prefers not to remove the saline and I trusted his opinion completely. I keep you post it!

Ralston - Good grief (re: your story to Seacretgardn)! So PS fills and then RO wants to unfill? They should get their plan together.   I have read of part of someone's fill being removed if the TE is full enough to block the ideal angles for radiation. I asked at simulation if mine was OK (not that full at 420cc on the non-rad side) and the tech said no problem. I do have the cadaver skin "slings" PS called them -- but mine are from calf skin, not human. He didn't say they were there to protect from radiation, but to help close a gap from not enough muscle to cover the bottom of the pocket as the TE is filled. It is there to support the TE and subsequent implant, or they could extrude. When he went in to replace/remove it, he said the sling had grown well into the muscle on that side. I haven't heard anyone say that emptying the TE will cause the skin to get less damage cosmetically--interesting. Doesn't this make you feel like we are all in the experimental stage of this procedure!

Actually, the question "What's to aim at for the boost?" (after mastectomy and excision of the original scar) is my question to my RO. I hope to find out Friday at my dry run whether he still wants to do boosts, if I don't see only a tech that day. I hope I see RO to hear the whole plan. I also do not know whether I do or don't want the boost, so in this case will defer to RO's expertise.

Windlass - so encouraging to hear how well you've done! Blister-free and mostly pain-free is a good thing!

michelle, i had #24 full breast today and then they marked me up for the boosts under my arm which start friday.  i wanted to tell you that one of the rads therapists showed me a brand new pen that he had put my name on!  they marked me up a lot today, so i was really happy that i had a new pen, but i never would have thought about it without your posts.  the therapist who got the new pen is also the one who gives me his arm when he gets me in the waiting room.  i think i have a LOT to be grateful for!

AnnAlive - I also hope to see my RO to hear the whole plan. I haven't heard from them, so I am calling tomorrow. Believe me, I will not hesitate to change RO if I don't feel comfortable (I learn that from Michelle... Oooh, I remember perfectly what she went through) If my TE is blocking the ideal angles for radiation, I will not have any problem removing it, but my RO was just concerned about my skin getting more damage with the TE. I remember perfectly 5 minutes before my UMX, my PS told me again that he was going to place the TE taking into consideration that I may need radiation in the future and made sure that I understood that it would've been a totally different surgery if radiation was not in the picture. I want to believe that they know what they are doing, but it is hard...

Thanks, Gail!  It's snowing and nasty here this morning.  It needs to switch over to rain this morning, as the forecast indicates.  I've been looking forward to this day since early April!!!

Still snowing and now a little sleet, too.  It's supposed to warm up to the 40's but it's going to have to hurry up!  We are supposed to go to dinner with our best friends tonight, to celebrate THE END!  The latest forecast says it will switch over around 2, which will work. 

Good luck today Michelle!!!

Tx #20 for me today. Only 10 more to go. So far so good!

Rose - I am sorry about your blisters. Isn't too soon for blisters? What are you using to protect your skin?

Michelle - Please try not to stress about the weather and be safe! Today you have so many reasons to celebrate!!! I am with Rose. We should celebrate with a glass of something tonight

Full breast radiation #25 done!!!!!!!! 

 Starting 5 boosters tomorrow. 

Congratulations YaYa5!  

oh yes I am happy. I even did a happy dance in front of the technicians today. 

They said that my skin did extremely well. It is in some parts a bit pink but not everywhere. They said that they would be really surprised if my skin would cause any serious issues.

All I am using is some aloe vera gel in the evening (usually every second night).

 

Congrats to you too Anita!!!!!

So excited!! I will finish rads tomorrow. On the other side, I have a younger friend who was told today she has BC. This disease hits so many of us! Makes me so angry.

Michelle - I love you!!! You are such a funny, brave and positive Lady. Well, believe it or not, I got depressed after chemo, because I had all this extra time in my hands without visiting doctors or having treatments that I had the same thoughts as you. I think I understand better now the purpose of so many therapies to help you understand your "new life". Best wishes.

Congrats to Michelle and all the other great ladies on here who have finished rads or are about to finish.

Ralston: I am gld they are finally listening to you and addressing your concerns. Good luck!