January 2012 rads

#1 done today.  Only 34 to go...does not look good in writing.  UGH!  The thought of doing this every day for the next 7 weeks is killing me.  I cried today when they started.  Not really sure why.  Emotions are a roller coaster for sure in this journey.  Here's to our weekend off!!

Maggie

Banba- used to put on a couple of times a day and just lay and watch tv or something.  It was however warmer!

Tried an ahh bra, works mostly ok if I pull it up from the bottom like a swimsuit.  Not so good at over the head pulling yet. Had pain in shoulder before surgery, etc., but I was only 46 and thought I had pulled something this summer.  But when the did bone scan for mets found it was full of arthritis - great one more thing.

I too had that moment of panic when they all say, okay we are leaving now.  My instinct was to jump up and say "right behind you".  They wanted out and it isn't even aimed at them!

#6 of accelerated treatments done. Very tired yesterday starting about 2 hrs after treatment. Lasted about 10 hours. Morning treatment so I was just feeling more alert in time for bed. Tonight tired, but not quite as bad as yesterday. Afternoon treatment so at least I will be tired for bed. Think I like that better. Wish I had more choice of time, but they just fit you in where they can on schedule. Acutally got something done this morning.

Msmouse,

 We are on exactly the same schedule, 10 out of 33 completed today. I am really having no physical side effects yet, put pure Aloe gel on 1x per day (I get treated in the afternoon so put it on after getting home at night with loose t). Not even having a problem wearing bras, I am still a C cup even after lumptectomy and reduction to even things up. I have notice the irradiated breast is now darker complected and seems warmer to touch, and it looks like a tiny bit of discharge from my nipple, but no pain associated with any of this.

 What I have noticed is that I am totally grumpy--about the interruption in my day 5x/week to drive to treatment; the traffic, the inconvenience, the parking, the red lights, make me want to scream! Once I am in the room and on the table I now take a catnap until they tell me I am done. Like many of you, I am also a teacher (5th grade) in a private school and we have open house to attract enrollment starting this weekend, plus report cards went out today so I have been under alot of stress on the job. I have welcomed the distraction from focusing on my cancer issues, but it is way too much and I lose my temper and patience frequently--when someone forces a schedule change on me, when anything unexpected happens I freak.

 I have also noticed a little fatigue the past few days. My worst stress on the job will pass by next week (gratefully) so I am curious to see if my grumpiness goes away (hoping so) before SEs set in, if they do. 

 Finally, for those of you who say this is rough and no fair that folks don't understand and say we should feel grateful because it could be worse, it is rough and it could be worse. That is the way it is.  I have two brother-in-laws, both close to my age (54) who will most likely die of their more serious cancers in the short term while I know, despite all the ickiness, I will survive this. For that I am grateful, and also grateful for the perspective their illnesses have provided me since I was diagnosed.

I have gotten 23 treatments down.  Next week is the last week of regular treatments.  Then the week after next I have 5 booster treatments.  Anyone know anything about the booster treatments?  I know I have to be re-measured for them so they told me to plan on it taking a little longer that day.

I love going to Sarah Cannon cancer center.  They don't ask for a copay or anything.  Everything is real low key with music, coffee, snacks and water.  The staff is great....but I'm always glad to jump off that cold table and run!

Soon, we will have to jump into the February group.  Hope everyone has a good weekend.  Take care.

What is an ABC machine?

Helen

Yesterday was # 12 out of 33 for me.  I was really tired the first few, but now am feeling normal.  I sleep really well at night (better than in a very long time).  My skin looks fine, no changes yet.  I use Aloe Vera right after treatment and Emu oil and Aquaphor at night after I shower.  I am not having any other symptoms and hoping it will stay that way.

After chemo and surgery, this part is not too bad. 

I am losing weight,  about a pound a week.  Is that typical?  I am not trying to (although I need to).  

Ardychan - how are you getting on? It sucks having been told that you will most likely burn. Thinking about you and hope it hasn't started out to badly for you.

Really happy to hear that not everything is progressive, meaning that fatigue can come (and go instead of "normally" getting worse). The same with pinkness. I wrongly assumed that if you have a reaction it will get worse over time but this doen't always seem to be the case.

My honey-treated breast feel just fine by the way.

I agree that the grumuness is partly due to havning been out of this cancer circus for a h´while. It is so in your face to have to go this many days in a row. And I don't even care of the staff are sweet as candy. So there.

14 out of 25 done, and other than being a touch pink, nothing major.  Whew...the hardest part is staying still for those minutes during the treatment.

Down to single digits now. 9 more to go. I'm as red as an apple. I'm feeling really emotional, too.

tnhelen: My RO said that when we get the boosts they don't treat the whole breast, just the area that had the cancer.

Hello ladies.  So glad everyone is progressing right along.

I finished 3 weeks of 6 on Friday.  The last 3 weeks have kinda flown by and I'm hoping the next 3 will fly too.

I also work in the education field, but on the transportation side.  Running buses up and down the road every day is stressful too so I can relate to those who are teachers out there going through this stuff. 

I agree with Anafoefana in that this part is not so bad after surgery and chemo.  I think chemo has been by far the worse for me so far.  It just seemed like the more treatments I had the SE's got worse.  So far the only bad thing about rads for me is the drive up there and back EVERY day.  It gets on my nerves to have to fight the traffic every day.  But this, too, shall pass.  And pretty soon it will all be over for us and we can find our new normal.

Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend.   Wishing everyone well next week as we begin the rads all over again.

HUGS to each and everyone of you.  You all make going through this so much easier!  So glad to have the support here that we have.

Hello, lifechangin...

You feel your life sucks right now, and it does.   Say it out loud, go out and scream it to the wind and let that tension out of your system.  Perhaps you are experiencing some shock as your diagnosis is so recent.  (My surgery was 1/3/12)    

Do you have a "navigator" or "coach" on yur tearm?  That person may be extremely helpful in listening to your valid feelings.   People mean well, but unless they "are in it" to them it just doesn't have the same emotional/physical impact.       And for some family and friends it is just more than they can handle.           Doesn't mean they don't care.

 We each get what we get and must deal with it in our own way.       I only shared what was happening with a few friends.  (I have no family)    Just simply let them know what I had, when the surgery would be, then let them know I was fine. 

 That is all they "needed" , but I know they care.      Truly hope you have a "coach " or navigator you can sharfe your feelings with.............just saying the words to someone can be such a  relief.     

Am responding because I feel so  badly that this is the way it is right now.   Believe in your body's ability to heal.   

Would be most happy to be a sounding-board for you, if you wish.

Am trusting good will come.

Sincerely,  Burma

Diagnosed, Dec.2011.   DCIS, Stage 0, Grade 3. Van Nuys:  #9

I just finished #9 of 33 and am just a little pink, no fatigue yet. Saw my RO and he said it will be pinker by next week and I will notice fatigue set in as the color changes. Makes me feel like doing everything active this week before my energy leaves!

I did ask for clarification about sun exposure--can I be in the sun as long as the treatment area is covered? Answer was Yes, that there is no photosensitivity to the rest of the body due to radiation therapy, so sun exposure to the rest of the body is fine. I further asked if it is OK to be in a pool with chlorinated water, and he said that is fine too. Of course, I wouldn't want to do that with blisters, open or not. Living in Florida, we have had some warm enough days to go to the pool ths winter, but I haven't been back to water aerobics for over a year because of chemo/surgery.

Another issue is what to wear to the pool. I am thinking of a mastectomy swimsuit, but I'd have to get a waterproof prosthesis (not my current fluff) and then also block the rads treatment area. I'm thinking of getting a short sleeve, short collar rash guard shirt for this, that could be worn under a swimsuit. What's the alternative--turtleneck swimsuit?   I need to protect the irradiated clavicle from sun.

Ann, because I had a BMX, I go flat a lot of the time. I can see how that must be tricky, when you have a boob on one side. The TLC shop sells camis that can take a foob. I would think that is the best solution. I have a set of fiberfill foobs, and some days I baste those into a fairly tight tank. It works fine.

Ann - I am also  "lopsided" (UMX w/TE)  I am not wearing a bra, but I wear light jackets, vests and wraps with light scarfs to cover my breasts.

Momine - Thanks, I forgot about TLC. They do have a pocketed cami designed for rads that is smooth on the inside.

Kayce234 - I'll have to look for the shelf tanks too, to see if I could adapt for prosthesis on one side. I'm not sure if I have seen a shelf, if it's not the same as the tanks with built-in bra.

Ralston - ah, the coverups! Good when it's cool, but we're having 80-degree days lately. I wonder what I could come up with.

Ossa - I suppose a bigger sports bra might work as a sort of "short" cami. I thought mine were loose until recently. They don't feel tight, just started leaving marks anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies.

I've been wearing a sports bra the entire time.  Purchased the cheap ones from Walmart 3 for 10.00 or something like that and they have worked out real well.  Got a size bigger.  I slather the lotion on in the dressing room right after my treatment and the cotton protects my clothing.

I am lopsided also.  The RO said it would fill back in ?? in time.  But, a friend told me the insurance would cover bras for lumpectomies also so I may get one of those.  I just need to find out who writes the script for it, the MO, RO or does it matter?

24 off 33 today!  Boosters next week.  Saw my medical bills for the new year today.  YIKES! 

Slow but sure getting there.

Helen