January 2012 rads

Hi All,

I had 6.5 weeks of radiation ending August 24, 2011 with the last 5 being the boost to the surgical area. I was diligent about using the lotion they recommended and i got quite red by the end but no discomfort. I did have some fatigue but not bad. Chemo is more of a challenge in my opinion. But since I had chemo first, it made the radiation seem like a piece of cake. I know you ladies who are going through rads now will tolerate it just fine. Best of luck and it will be over before you know it!

Banba - I plan on trying honey too if it starts to need more than moisture.  It worked on my c-section scar that wouldn't heal for 5 months.  Slathered on raw honey - and I do mean straight from the extractor - not heat treated.  Bit messy, but cleared up in a week, OB was amazed.  Had been reading in a bee journal about how they had used ground up earth worms and honey (or something yummy like that) to treat burns in China - with better results than we get in our burn centres.  So I decided nothing ventured, nothing gained.  They did use it to treat wounds in WWI before antibiotics!  And yes the bgirl moniker is bee girl - I do keep bees with my husband.

Lifechanging - Love your name, so appropriate!  I started with the pink first treatment too - have 7 down and 28 to go.  My doctor told me on Tuesday to not wear a bra - since I am a 40D/DD that's really not going to work for me.  I have a pajama top that is a tank with a shelf that is working for non work days.  I searched a bunch of stores for more but only found tight spandex ones - Walmart.com has some tanks with the shelf that look perfect and are pretty cheap so I ordered a few of those - hoping they are tight enough to support but not spandex tight.  I get them tomorrow and I'll let you know how they are..

lifechange..

I found the genie bra to work well. A sportsbra found online as well as at bed bath and beyond..

Good luck with all your rads ladies, had one of 28 today. My rad team explained everything they where doing.. even brough DH in from waiting room so he could see what they were doing, then had him watch the monitor while I was getting treated..

Hello folks,

May I join you?  I began radiation last week and had my 8th treatment this morning.  Lovely people, my radiation therapists. 

I use an ABC machine while doing radiation - it enables me to breathe in deeply and hold my chest wall away from my heart so as to avoid radiating it.  This is great because I did Adriamycin and am doing Herceptin, both of which can do heart damage.

I am having one issue, though: after treatment 1, I developed severe redness on my breast and some swelling.  2 radiation oncologists say this should not happen this soon... they think it might be an infection. I went back to my breast surgeon and he says it is not an infection and wants me to take anti-inflammatory meds and check back in a week.  Has anyone had this happen to them?

I wish everyone the best possible outcome with your rads treatments.  I have decided to opt out of doing rads in light of my age and prognosis.  I feel it's the right decision for me at this time in my life.  If I were younger, I would be looking at this from a much different perspective.

Sending you all prayers and positive energy! 

Hello, AussieKate,

Hope you are during well as you have no doubt begun your radiation. 

Just had mylumpectemy surgery for DCIS Stage 0, 4.4mm, clear margins, and am trying to make the decision whether to go ahead with the radiation as am concerned about side effects and long-term effects.

Of course I have learned that there is possibility of metastasis should I not do the radiation, but at 73 years of age, am thinking perhaps worth the risk to retain "quality of life" as already have an autoimmune low thyroid problem and am easily tired, anyway!

 Would you be kind enough to explain/discuss how you made the decision to proceed with the radiation.   Mine will be 5 weeks, perhaps 6 weeks.    (I probably have read way too much and now am "on the fence" between the positives and negatives.)   Do not want to be penny-wise and pound-foolish, however.

Guess you are enjoying Summer right about now and having fun on the beaches.  Would love to have experienced them.  I live in the NW USA, and our water gives spectacular waves, but soooo cold! 

Thank you very much,

Burma

HI ladies,

#13 today. So far so good. I must be like leather. My skin is barely pink, The scar is darkening and there is  fatigue in the evening after tx. I hope you all have an easy trip. The 15 minutes I spend at the center is like my social hour. I better get a life. The experience for me has been easy, so far. They have cases of flowering plants that they replenish every 2 weeks. I've taken home 3 plants.Now when I'm done I expect an orchid. lol.

Emotionally however its rough. Anger, depression, tears and fears. I do take a suppliment to help my immune sys. Don't know if that has helped, but this is too easy for me. 

Kaara, 

Great decision. I wish I had that option. Good Health to you and Keep the Faith.

Hey cancer "Burn Baby Burn"

Kaara - everyone must make decisions based on their own situation and I'm so happy that you have made yours and that weight is off your shoulders. - Wishing you nothing but the best!

Chef - I hear you on the emotional toll - spent yesterday after rads visiting my Dad at the cemetary crying my eyes out then slept for the rest of the afternoon. I don't know if it's the constant reminder every single day that I have cancer, the plain stress of it all or really not being able to open up about it at home because I feel like when I do both my Mom and husband try so hard to "make it better" that it's just easier to smile and say it's all good.  It's been very hard for me - my Dad was the biggest support in my life and I could talk to him about anything - he passed in 2010 and although I'm actually somewhat grateful he isn't here for this - it truly would have killed him - I miss having him to talk to.

OH kayce,

You are talking to your dad. Crying there is a good thing since your not crying at home. He is hearing you. My DD asks how I am everyday. but I cannot share the emotional aspect with her or anyone else. Thats the hard part. So I occaissonally have a pity party w her and I let her cater to my fatigue. I do feel alone w the emotions of it. Cry your heart out. it does help.

  ((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))xo

Maureen

kayce234 & chef 127 - I totally agree with you guys.  I can not share the emotional side of this at home either.  As long as I say I'm fine, they kind of drop it.  It's funny though, my 8 year old seems to know more or feel more.  He hugs me and asks me if it hurts.. that makes my want to cry harder.

bojo - my breast totally was swelling and painful for the first 5 treatment.  I had #9 this morning and it is much much better. They had me taking Motrin for a few days to relieve the inflammation pain. I have been totally second guessing my choices as well.  We make the choices we do with the information we have at that time. 

Ardychan - To me, rads has been scary.  

Kaara -   I know this has been a hard decison for you. I'm saying prayers for you.

Yay for Friday everyone !  Two days off of rads.  Whew. 

Momime,

Can you post receipe of your soup?  is it supposed to help with swelling?  They want me to take ibubrofen but i can't take to much because of other issues. 

thanks

Jo

Great thank you...

#10 of 33 today! 23 more to go. No real redness or pain, just a slight tingling of the nipple.  Eating well and exercising daily. Strength 3x a week & cardio 7 days. I do some light upper body stretches daily from a handout given to me by the RO. I am using pure aloe after the treatment and coconut oil 3-4 x a day & showered off before rads. Also in the no bra camp; using some slightly small cotton tees under my other shirts to hold myself together.I agree with some of the other posters about feeling more emotional. I had a good 6 weeks of not being messed with and being able to be normal & the every day to the rads center really puts me off. It's easier to say everything is ok than be honest about how you really feel! Chemo was different, or maybe because my DH is a pharmacist I understood what was going on better.  We will be experts by treatment's end for sure! Best wishes to you all.

Debbie

Burma - Even though, I had mastectomy and my margins are clear, radiation therapy was recommended due to my age (44). According to my RO I belong to that "gray area". I am "too young" (?????) and my tumor was grade 3  (aggressive), so the chances of local recurrence are high.

 Anyway, apart from been extremely bitchy, depressed, the annoying lyphedema, not have fully recovered the full use of my arm and gained 30 pounds during chemo, my MO said that I am doing great (?????). I had #5 today and my skin is doing fine. Have a wonderful weekend.