Any February 2012 radiation gals out there?

Relda - I'm so sorry to hear about your recurrence. You certainly have a rigorous schedule mapped out for treatment and follow-up! Is your tumor at the same area as the initial lumpectomy?

I started rads on Jan 16, getting 7 weeks, daily M-F, therefore I will be going through Feb and a little beyond. I have had chemo & surgery, continuing Herceptin through June, and then my focus is reconstruction (after failed TE) and staying well.

I don't have rad side effects yet, but during Feb, I'm hoping we can all minimize the burning and fatigue.

Hi ladies ...

I see the RO this Tues 1/24, then we are off to the races. 

I was diagnosed June 2011, lumpectomy July 2011, TAC chemo (6 tx) from September thru December.  I have a family history (my oldest sister is a 32 year survivor ... her daughter was not so lucky, died at age 38).  My sister never had the BRCA blood test but her daughter did, and she had a mutation.  I just got my BRCA results back last week and I am thrilled to be negative - it took a lot of prophylactic surgery off the table. 

I hope to bang out the simulation this week too after I see the RO; I want to get this done.  My MO is telling me it will be 33 treatments.  She says rads will be a cakewalk after what I went thru with chemo - the TAC is a nasty cocktail.  I am a healthy, strong person but chemo just kicked my butt.  I just want my life back!

I am sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but I am grateful for the sisterhood.

"When the spring flowers bloom, so shall I."

Hugs!

Debbie 

Relda:  Not sure I'll be taking tamoxifen...I'm post menopausal so I know there are other drugs that are recommended for us, but the first MO I saw mentioned it along with others.  I tried to tell him about a study I had seen on Metformin and he just blew me off, which I didn't like.  I think he should have at least let me finish my thought.  I'll be getting another MO because I don't like being treated that way.

I'm also seeing a naturopathic doctor that is guiding me on my diet and lifestyle changes.  I feel that what we eat is a very important part of keeping bc from recurring.  I have cut all starch and sugar from my diet and eat mainly fruits, veggies, nuts, and protein.  It's easy to follow and the good news is you lose weight and build muscle mass.  I'm disappointed that I'll have to give up all my antioxidants during rads treatment, but I feel I've got a good start on getting my body in optimal condition.  I started this program back in October, after I was dx.

Off to my scan app't this morning...hopefully I come back with some good news about the short rads treatment. 

I was glad to see all your posts!

ANN -  Re nails ... my skin and nails were great thru chemo.  My fingernails look like they did when I took prenatal vitamins.  Throughout chemo I used a product called TRIND (applied to nail like polish) that I have used to prevent splitting and peeling (my nails are pretty crappy).  I do not know if that helped, but I guess it didn't hurt.   But I know what the bad ones look like ... my niece's nails turned black, lifted off the beds and eventually fell off.  There is just no rhyme or reason to how some SE do not appear and some come in spades.  Everybody is different.  I read about the icing of the fingernails to prevent that - read it on the boards.  I also read something similar to that for hair loss prevention too, it involved putting ice packs on the head 30 min before, 60 min after chemo.  Wish I had read that before all my hair fell out.  I miss my hair.  I have about half of my eyelashes left, and practically no eyebrows.  Grrrr.....

I am interested in hearing more about the partial beam radiation.  I have small boobs too, and my lumpectomy scar is in the crease at the bottom of my left boob.  The surgeon told me that was "good" for radiation - small boobs mean less tissue to penetrate to get to the tumor site, I guess.  I hope to learn more tomorrow when I see the RO.  I worry about the adjacency to my heart/lungs.  No help for it, I guess.

Does the prep work for radiation include a CT scan?  Anything else?

KAARA - I am lucky, I love my onc.  She is wonderful - patient, approachable, answers all my questions (and I bring a notebook every time) - I never feel rushed.  She came well recommended, and as I travel thru the hospital and say I have Dr. Rooney, I have heard story after story about how kind and caring she is.  I feel lucky to have her.  Plus she is an Ohio State alumni and my youngest goes there, so she gets points for that, too.  GO BUCKS!

 RELDA - Kisses to you for your attitude about the trial.  Best of luck. 

Well, I will let you know how it goes tomorrow at the RO. 

Debbie

Welcome rabbit:  I had the same thing done today and I start next Wednesday.  It was a very exhausting day for me as well..something about that CT machine that stressed me out.  I am claustrophobic, so it was a nightmare for me going in there!  Anyway, it one more thing that we've gotten through.  

Sending you prayers on your upcoming surgery...mine were removed 20 years ago, so I'm sure the techniques are so much better now...probably don't even cut you open.  We'll be here for you! 

hi Kaara, thanks so much the ooph will be done laproscopically, so it should only leave 2 small incisions. I will let you all know! 

redplasticboots, welcome as well!!

Hi ladies;

Popping in here to share some helpful info on the main Breastcancer.org site on Radiation Therapy, including types of radiation therapy, what to expect, and how to manage side effects.

Hope this helps!

--Your Mods

I'd like to join the Feb. rads group.  I have my "consultation" with the RO on Jan. 26.  I had this appt. once before in Sept., but to my dismay they are making me repeat it since it has been over 4 months!  Anyway, I sort of know what to expect at this appt. - exam & sign consent.  I'm guessing they'll make an appt. for me to come the next week for the markings, mold, & simulation.  But, I don't know if that is done in one appt. or not.  How did that go for any of you that have been there already?  I was hoping to start rads 3 weeks after chemo - but it is going to be 6+ weeks because the RO was busy in Jan. with meetings - ugh!  I'll be driving the myself 24 miles.  Hope to have the rad appts. just before lunch so I can meet Dallas friends for a fun lunch every week or so.  I will have 6 1/2 weeks of rads, 5 days a week.  I feel like I have gotten my strength back & feel normal again after chemo.  I'm hoping rads will be a piece of cake.  (Even though I'm on the healthy anti-cancer mode of eating - no sugar as it feeds cancer.  I have bought an entire library of books on healthy eating & I'm trying to learn.  It is overwhelming.)

I was all set for rads starting next week but my RO called today and said she could not find the surgical site...there was no trace of it..only the clip the BS left and the scar.  Very unusual she said.  I was trying to get partial breast radiation, but due to this new event, I now only qualify for WBR which I am not sure I want to do.  I remember my DS and DIL praying for God to heal my disease as though it was never there.  It sounds like our prayers have been answered.

milliesmom:  That little lump is very likely scar tissue, particularly if it is near the scar area.  Don't worry, but have it checked if it will make you feel better. 

I would like to join this group. I finished chemo on Friday the 13th  and will start rads on Feb 1st. I had my planning and tatoos done Monday.

I had my MX in Sept, did DD AC and was going to do Taxotere rather than Taxol until I had hand/foot syndrome after my first Taxotere treatment, so had 3 Taxol. Started Arimidex and now rads.

Looking forward to sharing this part of our journey with all of you.

Sherry

Hi Everyone-- I am also part of Radiation February.  I will be getting 33 - 38 treatments beginning on or about Feb 9th.  I met with my doctor yesterday and i only have one more hurdle:  to get the stitches from my reconstruction removed and get the blessing of my plastic surgeon.  I had immediate tissue expanders and will undergo rads with my final implant in place...which makes me somewhat nervous but so far this strategy is working based on a protocol tried at Sloan Kettering.  (I know--some doctors refuse to do rads after implant or they say it can't be done).  So the plan is to get my tattoos and CT simulation on Feb 2nd.  Then start the rads about a week later.  I am interested to know if there are any other patients like me post reconstruction..  Also I have been told to wear a good bra during rads.  I suspect that is due to my implant.  I thought they usually said to go braless during rads??  What have you been told?   Well -- good luck everyone!! 

Hi all,

My dry run is next week.  I do have a question.  I talked to my RO about my concern for too much heart irradiation since it's my left breast that's being hit.  He said it's his job to make sure that my heart and lungs don't get a toxic level of radiation.  That's all fine and good but isn't even a non-toxic amount enough to potentially cause future problems? 

I'm extremely lucky because I didn't need chemo and my cancer was small and caught early.  I had a bi-lateral breast reduction done at the same time as the lumpectomy so it took me about 8 weeks to heal. I admire all you ladies who had it rougher than I.  How do you maintain your sanity?  I have meltdowns from time to time.  Not so much "why me?"  I've never questioned that, but more "when is all going to end?"

Thanks, Jo.  That makes sense.   2 of my four tattoos are at the very sides or each breast, so I wonder if that's to aim it like that?  I'll have to ask them next week since they told me to write down all my questions!  Good luck to you on round 2!  Did you take any hormone replacements after the first time?  Just curious because they're telling me that is supposed to help keep the cancer from recurring.