Any April/May 2012 rad girls out there?

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  • Maghery721
    Maghery721 Member Posts: 68
    edited April 2012

    Lory, can't believe you are already seeing the redness so soon?? That's crazy and I'm sorry to hear it. I haven't seen any redness and I'm sure I wouldn't feel anything if there was any tingling b/c my breasts are completely numb. I don't feel when the rad techs use the marker on me every day.



    Janet: great news! So glad it went easy for you!!



    I have exactly one week left before my disability ends and I return to work. I have really gotten used to being at home and have been able to enjoy this last part of it since I'm not suffering from chemo effects (like my last disability leave) and am feeling fairly recovered from my BMX. But I do look forward to seeing my very wonderful and supportive bosses and co-workers and getting back into a routine (which is sorely missing from my life and something I rely on to keep me sane.

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  • Chickenpants
    Chickenpants Member Posts: 132
    edited April 2012

    I hope I'm not going to regret this but I was invited on an 8 km hike this morning. Two hours of grinding trails. I'm due for treatments three and four in an hours time. Lovely hike and nice to get away from all the cancer chatter.



    Hockey quarter finals on tonight and hoping I'm not sleeping through it!!!



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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited April 2012

    I think I've been feeling little qeasy too.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited April 2012

    we went to macaroni grill last night. Had never been . I think it just sat on my stomach all night.

    Been really tired.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited April 2012

    Oh sorry one more. My brother in law got out of hospital with his new liver just now!



    He also got this new treatment for liver cancer. they took some of his old cancer cells mixed it with ne cancer cells , let it sit for few days. Then injected mixture in him. I think he called it killer T cell injection. So glad I don't have that to worry about anymore.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2012

    Cigi56--I thought it was soon as well, but RO said it will subside, then tan.. then redden again. I too feel queazy roughly 30 minutes after treatment. I also get a nice hot flash at the same time. tryign to stay on my diet, however today I grabbed 2 pkg of graham crackers for the cancer center to nix the feeling on the hr drive home.

    Fran, glad to hear your brother is out of the hospital.. I have heard of that type of treatment very interesting.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2012

    Just had my first out of 33 tx today. I was more emotional than I thought. You'd think after lumpectomy, dx, scan scan scan, 5 mos chemo, I'd be blase about this next chapter, but I found myself tearing up during the tx...I moved my arm once between the xrays pre-tx to wipe tears away and got yelled at (not meanly). Not so brave either, like Chickenpants

    I talked to my zapper-radiation molecules or whatever they are when I heard the machine buzz (4 x)--told them to "go get em', boys!".  

    On the way home (a very switchback-y road) I felt nauseated, but that might be because I started tamoxifen today, too.  I guess I began two tx today.  No wonder I feel kind of weepy.

    Was given samples of aquaphor and was told that was the best--to mix with xclair, which I got samples of too.  But I'm still going to have some emu oil on hand. I hope I don't grow feathers Wink

    Claire, aka whackadoodle (nickname from the 11/12 chemo board)

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  • jdwench
    jdwench Member Posts: 27
    edited April 2012

    I have decided not to do chemo, so now it's on to Rads. I am already eight weeks past my surgery date. I am still having breast pain, probably from the nerve, so I am in no hurry to start. Can I start Rads with my pain? How long can one wait to start? My decision was delayed because of waiting on tests, 2nd opinions etc. Haven't even met with the RO yet. getting a little anxious that I'm waiting too long. yikes

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  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited April 2012

    Joanne -  I will keep you posted

    I'm doing the saline soak three times a day for ten minutes, and making my own solution. Also slathering myself in Aloe gel, which I brought to the hospital with me. (The bottle, not the plant).

    Day 2 and everything is good. In fact, after an initial weepy breakdown, I find the whole thing kind of relaxing. As long as I don't think about what's really going on, I'm great.

    And Chicken Pants - sorry about the shakey legs. Hope you're feeling calmer. Here's my favorite saying. 'Feel the fear and add some courage'. 

     

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  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited April 2012

    This Saline Soak?  Are you using room temp water? Warm? Hot? Cool?

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  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited April 2012

    I boil water with table salt for 15 minutes - then let it cool to warm temperature. Then I soak a facecloth, and leave it on my breast for about 10 minutes.  Then a minute air drying . No rubbing. Three times a day.

    This was recommonded by the Radiology Nurse, and my cancer center distributes a pamphlet with all the info. I'm following the instructions.

    Tonight I'm following it with glass of wine. My idea. Not theirs. 

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  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited April 2012

    Hmmm sounds worth a try.

    Thanks!

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited April 2012

    I was pretty freaked out by the machine the first few rounds, but I've made my peace with "Old Sparky", and now I just try to relax and spend those 6 or so minutes daydreaming.

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  • linnyhopp
    linnyhopp Member Posts: 567
    edited April 2012

    Hi Everyone ~ Haven't been on the board in awhile.  I had my first appointment for scan and preliminary markings today.  Lovely position to stay still in for over 30 minutes, but I just made myself think of the Caribbean sea and the wonderful times we have had watching the  beautiful wake off the back of the ship and that made it more tolerable.  I am hoping to hear if they have my plan ready by Friday as the radiation onc said it would be ready, but her nurse/assistant kind of chuckled and said she hoped it would be ready.  We will see.  These lovely marks on my torso are an added bonus.  Can't wait for the tattoos...LOL! 

    The best part of the day was meeting SAN (a.k.Sandyland) for lunch.  We both go to the same place for rads.  Just want you all to know that she is as wonderful in person as she is on these boards!  A real positive is making a friend from what is not the best situation, and knowing you are lucky to have made that connection.  I also want to say that you amazing women make this journey so much better and I will be depending on all the info you post to get me through my rads.  Love that you all "pay it forward" and I will hopefully be able to do that for others who make the journey after me.  Thanks to all of you.  Have a great evening...Linda

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  • Gayle56
    Gayle56 Member Posts: 277
    edited April 2012

    I went for my CT scan today and preliminary markings.  I saw my RO and everything seems to be in order.  It didn't take long, the whole visit was about a half hour.  I went for a bunch of blood tests after that and have to go back next Friday for the simulation.  I am guessing we will start with the real thing the following week.  They were very nice so no complaints here.

     Gayle

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  • amcarter
    amcarter Member Posts: 21
    edited April 2012

    Michbunny & Joanne_53,

    Thank you for the info on the exercises. For some reason I wasn't given any info about stretching or exercises. I'm sure this will help.

    Everyone,

    I went in for x-rays today and they scheduled my rad tx for 9:45 am every day starting tomorrow morning. I know several people have been wondering when to schedule.  I'm less than 10 minutes from the hospital and I homeschool my 3 children so I figured that would give me time to get them going with lessons and then come back home & get busy. My teenage daughter has a English comp/writing class in the afternoons every Tuesday that I have to take her to and 4H is once a month in the afternoons so mornings were really the only thing I could do. I am a bit concerned that fatigue will set in and I'll have a difficult time teaching my boys (ages 6 & 9) but I guess I just have to hope for the best & if they get behind because their mom/teacher is too tired we'll just have to homeschool through the summer. I'm guessing that those who said to do what you have to do during the day then have tx in the afternoons so you can go home & crash if you need to are probably right if that is a possibility - it just wouldn't work for me.

    Finally, I find it interesting that everyone seems to be told something different about skin care during tx.  My rad onc told me no "lotions or potions" at all except to use Aquaphor after being "zapped" starting on my first day (tomorrow!) .  Also, absolutely no shaving and no deo & I'm supposed to use a fragrance free gentle soap like Dove.  She won't even let me wear a bra except for the first 2 weeks and then only in public.  After that she said to wear a 100% cotton tank top or cami under a loose fitting shirt.

     I've read a lot of different recommendations for skin care but would love to know exactly what everyone is being told to do (or not do) by the rad onc or nurse.

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited April 2012

    I have been told about Glaxol base but not to apply at least 2 hours before treatment -- I asked yesterday about using it at night after my bath and not washing it off in the mornning and was advised that it was fine that it had time to absorb.  Also I was told about using Dove and aluminum free deoderant.  I was not advised about bras -- except underwire. 

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  • Sandyland
    Sandyland Member Posts: 262
    edited April 2012

    Fran ~ Yay for your bro-in-law coming home!  I love when there is good news on the board!

    Linnyhopp ~ Too funny!  Before I read your post I was posting something really similar on the "Nov chemo board."  I had such a great time today and I'm just gonna say it...we looked HOT in our fancy-shmancy wigs!  By the way, did you notice that some of the regular ceiling tiles were replaced with ones that show a blue sky with clouds?  I LOVE that!

    I think it was Momof3 who was asking about nausea.  I started feeling queasy after about my 3rd rads tx.  It comes and goes, but I pretty much have it to some degree, daily.  I, however, have not had the "accidental weight loss" side effect.  Where can I sign up for that one?? :)

    Whackadoodle ~ I'm so glad you're on this board...you keep me laughin' sister =]  I know what you mean about the treatment being emotional.  I posted something similar after my first rads tx.  I think after diagnosis, surgery, chemo and everything else we've been through, it just gets to be really taxing.  I feel like my coping mechanisms are at an all time low.  Even though rads is less difficult than chemo, I don't think I'm handling it that well.  I was stronger physically and emotionally going into chemo.  I geared up for it and managed to keep my head above water throughout treatment.  Now, I'm just tired...really tired.

    Soooo, I'm officially 1/3 of the way through rads today.  11 of 33 down!  I have redness and occasional shooting pains, but I am plowing through.  I had blood drawn today to check my iron levels and red blood counts due to my extreme fatigue.  I'm already taking iron supplements...I'm not sure what they'll recommend if it comes back low again, but I'll cross that bridge if/when I come to it.  Tonight, I'm choosing not to worry about anything.

    Blessings,

    SAN

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  • Crazygirl57
    Crazygirl57 Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2012

    I start on April 16. 33 rads. Lymphedema scares me as well as the possibility of being fatigued for up to 3 months after tx. Had planning last week, practice run tomorrow. Keep in touch.

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  • MOT
    MOT Member Posts: 130
    edited April 2012
    Saw my RO today for the first time. She is wonderful. I had a whole list of questions and she answered everything before I even asked them. She even went over breast anatomy and how cancer cells grow, explained everything you wanted to know about SNB, what all the abbreviations in my dx mean, skin care, antioxidants, treatment options based on dx/type of cancer/ER/SNB.

    Having planning tomorrow, will have to have 30 treatments. So I will have to drive 80 extra miles/day for one minute rads....... Smile

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  • bethm
    bethm Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2012

    Amcarter,

     I found a deod. called Crystal, it is a salt based and is recommended by the cancer society and even has a pink ribbon on it. My RO nurse was thrilled when I showed her so she could tell the other patients. Hope this helps.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited April 2012

    Im traveling for my rads. DH has work gig in area so I get to stay with him in Baltimore. I think i can really get used to this hotel service. They have complimentary breakfast every mornings. I just did my little thing in gym. Trying to take it more easy,as body partsseem to hurt at times. Really getting used to cable tv too again



    My sister bless her heart is taking care of all back home. That first week i was gone came back to spend sat with my 15 year old getting 7 stitches to her foot. No shoes in park. She also has type 1 diabetes so that was lot of extra worry. Stitches out now

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  • amcarter
    amcarter Member Posts: 21
    edited April 2012

    Well, one down 33 to go. Claire, I thought about your "go get em' boys!" phrase as I was being zapped.  It went super quick, absolutely no time to think about much but the pretty stained glass ocean scene they had on the ceiling.  I counted 8 little green fish, 1 huge red beta looking fish & a sea turtle. I guess at least they're trying to make a hard thing pleasant. Maybe next time I'll count the bubbles.

    On another note, I was just thinking that BC is not for the overly modest. Today was just one more of the many instances of where you just lay bare from the waist up with virtual strangers casually probing you and moving you around as if it's nothing. Sometimes I wonder why they even give us gowns at all. LOL!

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited April 2012

    As my RO said - "check your modesty at the door."  I will say, however, that the male techs are very professional and I don't feel the least bit uncomfortable with them.  They are very careful to not expose any more boobage than necessary while doing their prep work.  I do wonder why they don't just cover me up again once everything is lined up.  It's not like the fabric will block the radiation....  The one thing that does bother me is the changing room is just inside an open doorway from the main lobby.  I have to figure out the gown-tying origami just to walk from the changing room to the treatment room.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2012

    Wow Marie! Open changing room? We have a special entry door, one for women one for men. It has sperate rooms and lockers -I imagien the mens is thesame set up.

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited April 2012

    Sorry Lory - I realize I wasn't very clear....  The changing room itself has a door, but the door is in clear view of the lobby, so people can be seen as they enter and exit the changing room.  We don't have lockers, just cubbies for our gowns (we use the same one for a week, then get fresh ones).  We have to bag up our street clothes and take them with us into the treatment room.  No separate areas for men/women.

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  • Sandyland
    Sandyland Member Posts: 262
    edited April 2012

    MizMarie ~ "Gown tying origami" made me laugh out loud! Laughing  Our set up sounds similar to yours.  There are two changing rooms with curtains, but they are right off the waiting room and you have to walk right through the busiest part of the office to get from the changing rooms to the radiation room.  I have developed this system - I just grab the two strings at the top (back) of my gown and hold them in one hand over my shoulder as I walk to my room.  That way, there is no danger of my gown flying open unexpectedly, but I can also get myself out of it quickly for my treatment.  I figure that they must see dozens of women walk this path daily, so I'm probably not going to stick out in anyone's mind :)

    Fran ~ I'm glad you are getting to spend time with your hubby AND get pampered hotel-style!  You and I have followed a very similar path.  I was diagnosed 2 days after you, had my mx in Sept, as well, and I finished chemo 8 days before you.  Do you know what type of reconstruction you are going with?  I really want to try an implant first, although my PS is not optimistic that it will work due to the amount of skin they had to take and the fact that radiated skin often doesn't "hold" implants.  I want to try anyway...if it doesn't work, I want to try the DIEP.

    SAN

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited April 2012

    San

    How are you feeling post chemo? My legs still burn when I walk up flight of stairs. And my arm still feels weird. Still feels tingly.and some joints stillhurt.



    Im seeing a natural path dr. on monday.I want to try and get on glucaphage, and low dose naltraxon .



    How does everyone put others names in caps?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2012

    Our center uses the three hole gowns.. easy on.. easy off.. I can't imagine trying to master gown string origami with a neck issue along with the lack of mobility in my right arm..

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  • Maghery721
    Maghery721 Member Posts: 68
    edited April 2012

    The gowns at my rad office have the 3 arm holes as well, really like those. Smart thinking on designer's part.



    Saw RO today for weekly check in. She noticed only a very slight pink color on my radiated breast compared to non-rad side. Had my 9th tx today, 19 more to go. Hope it continues to go this easily.

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