Any March 2012 RADS out there?

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  • AmyLD
    AmyLD Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2012

    Harp ~ glad to know I'm not alone!  Too much too soon is right!  Its a whirlwind!  I'm just a bit pink and my RT is in the early AM then hi ho hi ho for the day.  The Aleve is really helping, both with the tenderness and the pain from bending sideways.  Not really feeling fatigue yet.  I'm going to give the Tamoxifen a go.  It is really a great drug and I would prefer not to go through this whole regime again!  I just read through my mom's records and she had IDC and masectomy.  I'm keeping a journal to add to the book the hospital gave me so that I can pass it down (just in case).  Thinking about genetics testing but not sure what that will do to future life insurance.  My three sisters, their daughters and my daughter all are aware that they are at risk.  I keep forgetting to discuss the boosts.  Are they higher amounts of radiation?

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  • Bjay
    Bjay Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2012

    I started radiation Feb 27 and will be there all through March probably until beginning of April. I have a hand full of reports which I can't understand, but they tell me I have Stage 1c, lymph nodes were all clear and after radiation I will need arimadex?? since my cancer was hormone responsive. 

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  • crking71
    crking71 Member Posts: 40
    edited March 2012

    I had a boost simulation yesterday, even though I won't start getting the boosts for a couple more weeks.  Good news, I'm halfway done!  But my poor nipple!  Ouch!!

    Also, I may have to cancel rads today.  We got between 5-6 inches of snow this morning.  It's a mess out there!

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  • Harplu13
    Harplu13 Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2012

    Amy- Boosts are a different kind of beam of radiation.  I think Photon?  The RO told me it was a shorter ray.  I was concerned because I have done all of my treatments prone and now the boosts are on my back and I was worried about the effects on my lung.  I had my simulation today, more CAT scans and sharpie marks and now some stickers on my breast and almost under arm.  Allergic to adhesive but didnt want to get more tatoos so we shall see how I feel in about 10 hours.  Wonder what happens if you take Benadryl and Ativan???  I had the BRCA test done before surgery.  I knew it would affect my decision on whether to have lumpectomy or MX and the "what ifs" were making my crazy.  

    Has anyone started taking Tamoxifen yet?  I am really on the fence.   

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  • Snoopsmom
    Snoopsmom Member Posts: 119
    edited March 2012

    Had my first of 34 today. It took far longer to set up than to actually zap me. I keep hoping I'll get to glow in the dark afterwards (LOL!!)...we should get some kind of fun out of all of this! My treatment time is 7:45 am which is what I was hoping for since I'm up early anyway (thanks to my cat!) One down....27 more regulars and 6 boosts to go! I started with Jean's Cream a few days ago and I'm hoping my skin effects are minimal. I should be done in early May.

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited March 2012

    I made it to my "day zero" appt, which was sort of a let-down.  They just had me lay on the table, took some measurements, did a few x-rays, gave me a couple more sharpie marks, and that was it.  I was told that they won't do the tattoos until the 3rd session.  I was a bit bummed that I didn't get the daily treatment time I would have preferred - I wanted a 4:00 or later, but the latest I could get was 3:40 - too early to just go home afterwards.  Tomorrow is Day #1...  Last treatment is May 7th.

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  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 898
    edited March 2012

    Joanne, glad you could get your vacation in. I thought I'd be able to get away for two weeks between my last MO appointment and beginning of rads, and I even had made my airline reservations. But the RO said I couldn't wait the extra two weeks!!! Bummer!!! But it really wasn't her fault. I agreed to participate in a clinical trial and, under the terms of the trial, rads had to start by a certain date.

    At least I'll get through sooner.

    Amy, you really are on a fast track. That's great! I've been at this since mid-October... 

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  • Beebop
    Beebop Member Posts: 206
    edited March 2012

    Harplu13 - I have been on Tamoxifen for a couple of months. They didn't seem to think it would be a problem with the radiation. The only side effects I have from it is joint pains. Kind of the same as I had with chemo. They seem to be getting a little better and I hope they will go away altogether.

    #25 today, only 8 more to go! Yesterday they had to re-boot the machine and I was afraid it wasn't going to work and I would have to postpone. Thank goodness they got it working!

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  • Harplu13
    Harplu13 Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2012

    Beebop- I'm on the 8 day countdown with you!!  Just want to get back to my old, "normal" life....

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  • Beebop
    Beebop Member Posts: 206
    edited March 2012

    Harplu - are you starting boosts today? 5 more left yay!

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  • Harplu13
    Harplu13 Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2012

    start my first boost tomorrow.  Are you doing 6?  I only have 5.  Was it different?  I have done all my other rads facedown, so tomorrow will be the first time I am face up.  Terrified of Tamoxifen....

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  • misha99
    misha99 Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2012

    bee bop - I am so glad you mentioned the joint pain.  By the end of the week these last few weeks my joints feel infused with lead---yet i would not call it general fatigue-- it is very specific to my hips, knees, shoulders.  I have been on tamox since January, so I am hoping this is rads related.  Rads after all will end in 2 days----not tamoxifen.  I notice i begin to limp on about thursday ---but once i get my 2 days off i am good as gold.  weird.  The RO nurses think it is tamox --- I am not so sure,.

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited March 2012

    OK, I just had to laugh - how's this for a warm welcome? 

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  • crking71
    crking71 Member Posts: 40
    edited March 2012

    Had to miss treatment yesterday and today because the rad machine broke down.  Now the end of treatment will be pushed back yet another couple of days.  I'm a little bummed about it because I just want to get it over with.  It will be nice to be done with rads so I can move on to the next step - my new "normal" life. 

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited March 2012

    Crking, I had treatment yesterday, but received a call this morning that the machine was broken, so nothing today.  I had already circled May 7th in red as my final treatment.  I was also supposed to see the RO today, and was told that I'd see one of the other doctors later in the week.  Frustrating - I have a list of questions I wanted to ask....   

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  • carolinames
    carolinames Member Posts: 43
    edited March 2012

    At the halfway point...17 down 16 to go!  The only SE so far is I have on patch that is itching!!  Not sure if once it starts, it doesn't go away until treatment is complete.  Keeping the hydrocortisone handy. 

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  • MNGirlyGirl
    MNGirlyGirl Member Posts: 26
    edited March 2012

    Hi all,  I finished chemo 3 weeks ago and start my rads tomorrow.  Went in this morning for some final xrays and the last of my tattoo marks.  I got very emotional and started to cry after they were finished.  I think I'm so tired of feeling poked, prodded and just plain crappy.  I just want all this to be over and now have the stress of making my 7:30 am rads every day (33 rads total).  I'm sure once I get into the routine, it won't be a big deal.  I was so focused on my chemo that I really never though about the radiation.  Thought it would be a breeze after that, but I'm not so sure.  i was given some Miaderm cream made especially for radiation patients.  They will be doing a "gated breathing" procedure on me where I take a deep breath and hold it and then they zap me.  It's supposed to move my heart away from my breast tissue and avoid damage to the heart.  Has anyone else done this?

    Kathy

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  • dechi
    dechi Member Posts: 173
    edited March 2012

    MNGirlyGirl,

    I'm a MN girl too!  Started my 33 rads last week.  Have had 6 so far.  It goes really really fast.  I leave my work and am back at my desk 35 minutes later and that's driving 10 minutes each way!  You'll do great! 

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  • MNGirlyGirl
    MNGirlyGirl Member Posts: 26
    edited March 2012

    Cool, Dechi!  Where are you getting your treatment?  I work downtown Mpls and go to Abbott so I will be able to do it on my way to work. 

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  • dechi
    dechi Member Posts: 173
    edited March 2012

    I'm going to Fairview Ridges in Burnsville.  I couldn't get an earlier time slot but it's working out pretty good.

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited March 2012

    MNGirlyGirl,

    I'm having a similar procedure called IMRT, that "bends" the radiation beam to avoid my heart and lungs.  I don't have to hold my breath, however.  I was told that the treatment programming accounts for breathing movement - and I hope it accounts for anxiety breathing.  As soon as the machine starts buzzing my heart rate feels like it doubles.  I did not expect to be bothered by the experience, but there's just something very unnerving about being left alone in a room that has a "Grave Danger" warning sign outside the door.

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  • Snoopsmom
    Snoopsmom Member Posts: 119
    edited March 2012

    I just had my 6th radiation session today. All is well so far, except that I seem to feel a 'tightening" sensation in the radiation area, especially toward the area of my sentinel node biopsy. I've also noticed a little tenderness, not on the skin, but deeper in the breast. I plan to discuss this with my RO next time I see her, but I was wondering if anyone else here has had similar sensations?

     (Edited for typo)

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  • Beebop
    Beebop Member Posts: 206
    edited March 2012

    Hey dechi and MNGirlyGirl, I am in Minneapolis going to the U. Every morning at 8:30 and it is really getting old! Only 3 more left! It probably sounds strange, but I feel like I am going to be a little lost for a while. I started chemo in June followed by 2 surgeries and now radiation. I'll need to wait about 9 months before I start reconstruction again. My life has been so much about all these appointments it will be strange trying to get back to normal life.

    Misha99- I started the Tamoxifen before radiation and had the joint pain right from the beginning. Although it does seem to be worse lately. I am anxious to see if when I am done with rads it will get any better.

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  • ckk
    ckk Member Posts: 270
    edited March 2012

    MizMarie, I am having IMRT also, and that buzzing really unnerves me too. The machine swings around and and zaps me from two directions, and I'm always scared that the radiation is going while it moves! lol

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  • dechi
    dechi Member Posts: 173
    edited March 2012

    Beebop - Congrats on only 3 more left!  I can't wait to get down to that.  I'm going in for #7 in a few minutes.

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  • cupcakies
    cupcakies Member Posts: 71
    edited March 2012

    Hi Snoopsmom, I'm on my 12th session and i definitely feel tightness on the radiation side and underarm.  I've been doing PT since my surgery and was doing well, but i feel like this has set me back.  I can't extend my arm all the way up anymore. Hopefullly it'll get better once we're done. Other than that, no other side effects! 

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  • Snoopsmom
    Snoopsmom Member Posts: 119
    edited March 2012

    Thanks, Cupcakies....my tightness is very slight, but noticeable. I haven't noticed any limitations of movement so far. I used to do pretty strenuous upper body exercises with resistance bands, but I've really lowered the intensity due to LE risks. Maybe that's been helping to keep the range of motion. I'm so early into my treatment I'm not showing any skin changes yet. Number 8 coming up later this morning. I met with my RO yesterday morning and she's pleased with things so far.

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  • lalere
    lalere Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2012

    Help!  I posted on another topic board, but didn't get but one response.  For anyone doing gated breathing--do you hold your breath after you inhale or after you exhale?  I have gotten conflicting information and am doing the "holding of breath" on my own.  I just don't know which way keeps the heart further away from the radiation site.  I leave for my 8th RT in an hour.   Thanks.

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  • dechi
    dechi Member Posts: 173
    edited March 2012

    Sorry Lalere, I'm not doing gated breathing.  Hope you get an answer soon!

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited March 2012

    ckk, I was told by the rad tech that the beam is turned off while the leaves in the collomator are repositioning, even though the machine buzzes while that's happening.  That did relieve some of my anxiety.  I have so many curious questions, but they kind of rush me out of the room as soon as I'm off the table.  I try to ask one or two questions each day, but what I really want is a "play-by-play" explanation as things are happening.  I learned yesterday that there are 2 cameras and a microphone in the room.

    Lalere, I'm not doing gated breathing (supposedly my treatment plan factors breathing in somehow), but I would guess that you hold on exhale.

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