Any April/May 2012 rad girls out there?

Ladies, those of you who are using aloe vera gel, could you tell me which brand/manufacturer you use?  I looked in a vitamin shop and drug store today, but nothing really suitable.  I'd buy an aloe vera plant, but no luck there, either.

Thanks .

Claire - My mammogram center has nice white waffle weave robes.  New since I was there last year when had crossover gowns.  Complimented them.  When I had LX with wire local the mammo center at that hospital had pitiful waist length crossover gown and it was FREEZING in there and I had heated blankets on provided by my lovely transport aide. 

No molds at my rad center.  Head holder type thingy and place for L arm to rest.  I felt better with R hand with a handle to grip so it kinda looks like I'm in a torture device but not too uncomfortable for tx.  Sounds like to get to bolus there is another CT sim and I've read here on BCO there is some shield on the equipment as Sandyland says to trick the beam into getting closer to the skin.  I just LOVE to ask questions of them.  Will find out as I get closer to it but I've only done 5 of the 28 pre-bolus doses.  AND yes, my breast did get warm with the 1st tx like a sunburn.  Not so much since then but can tell it is changing.  SNB site hurts like the devil tonight. Wish I could take a hydrocodone but working on work paperwork online off and on.

No covering on my tx breast.  Nicely folded gown over other one.  Want those horizontal/vertical markings exactly in place.  Also lasers on tattoos.

Cancerwarrior - sounds like you've been through a lot by your bio.  But it also sounds like you're getting the "take charge" attitude we all need to adopt.  I find that the more I participate/know the less frightened I am.  Let them think my questions are nosy.  It's my body.  I asked about sounds the equipment makes other than the buzzing which is obviously the tx as it sounds just like dental Xrays.  Sounds like camera shutters opening/closing even with the buzzing going on.  Tech says just older equipment but bet it's some beam adjustment going on.  It never varies so I don't worry about it.  Just curious.   Read through the radiation information section here, too.  I did that today; not sure I had ever read it.

We'll be here together.  I, too, don't know what I'd do without these boards even though this is the one I mostly post on.  Would spend all day on here if work/house didn't call me away.

Praying for anyone in midwest tonight, looks like esp. Kansas.

There's an "outlet" link on the webpage cigi56 linked.  It's also available via amazon.

cancerwarrior -- LOL that was me who said the blue mold was "comfy." I mean it really was -- it was my shape, and I had the handholds over my head and some elbow supports to rest my arms on. Of course I haven't started my rads yet...... and my arms did start to go to sleep after about 10 minutes of flagging and tatoo'ing. My RO said my rads would be about 1 minute.

Also you are right! The most painful thing I've gone through is the needle biopsy. Now if I hear a loud click, it freaks me out! When I had it done, I said "ow" (loudly) each time but I was concentrating on my diaphragmatic breathing so I wouldn't move and the radiologist kept appologizing and saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I was kinda funny.

Cigi and Cindyl -- thanks for the lead on the aloe. I'm thinking an aloe SPRAY might be nice....

I seem to be constipated ever since my LX -- maybe the Vicodin? Though I haven't taken it in almost 2 weeks. A little rads diarrhea might help balance me out..... LOL

I wore a regular bra today for the first time (instead of my armour zip front bra) and while wearing it was more comfortable, going over road bumps was not very nice. Of course with rads, now they don't want you to wear a bra. I'm small, but that can't be good.

Everyone enjoy the weekend  -- thanks for all your posts!

Thanks Cigi and Cindy, I'll have a look!

Sandyland,

I don't have a bolus either but spoke to my RO today about it since I've had one friend who had one & two friends who didn't. She said that at our hospital they only use them if necessary because she likes to be able to specialize care. Evidently at many of the larger hospitals they use them whether needed or not so all their doctors are doing the same thing.  Anyway, she said that she uses them for patients who have difficulty holding still, for older patients who have difficulty raising their arms above their heads, for larger breasted women, etc.  Basically they are used for patients where it's much more difficult to get the rads positioned precisely.  She said it's an extra expense that simply isn't always necessary and at our hospital she is given the opportunity to specialize care according to the needs of the patient and reassured me that if my slides were blurry or the techs noticed me having difficulty maintaining position that she would do a mold . So I really don't think you have anything to worry about.  Hope this reassures you some.

Michbunny,

Hi there. I'm an aloe girl, and I'm using 'Nature's Aid' , which I got at the health food store. It's got Aloe, vitamin E, Witch hazel, Rosemary, and Tea tree. Very gentle scent. 

The guy in the store told me he swears by it for everything from rashes, to burns, to itching. He said is even cured his varicose vein.

I'm on rad treatment numbe r# 5 - and so far, so good. I'm also using a saline soak three times a day. I'm salty, and gooey. 

I'm still a couple of weeks away from having boosts, but neither the RO nor the techs have mentioned a bolus.  Are they used only if the tumor bed is near the surface?  Mine was close to the chest wall, with only a 2 mm margin there.

Angie ~ I think you might be talking about something else.  I have heard others mention a "mold" that they fit into on the bed to avoid movement, but my bolus is different.  It is not squishy either (as I've heard others mention), but rather a hard "shell" that was molded to my body using a paraffin wax-type substance.  I know the purpose of it ~ to fool the rads beam into thinking it has hit skin sooner, so that the full force of the rads can be utilized all the way up to the surface of my skin.

My questions are not about what the bolus is or what it's purpose is...my question is why the heck am I the only one I know of using this thing for every single treatment??  I know of some others whose RO's haved used a bolus for them every other treatment or, more often, used it as a way to "boost" treatments right at the end.  I totally get what it is for, I just want to know why I am receiving such high intensity rads by having the bolus on for every treatment.

I leave in 20 minutes to go in for my next tx...so I guesss we'll find out soon enough.  Thanks for all the input ladies.  I appreciate you all asking for me!

SAN

Hi there,

I started my fourth week of treatment today.  Doing ok so I cannot complain too much.  Just tired.  They are Radiating my Sacrum area.  Sac 1 and some of Sac 2.  She said the last 8 treatments will be reduced. I'm in a study for agressive Breast Cancer Metastisis Patients.  Can't wait for this to be over so I can go home and be with my kids.

Janet, as it happens, while I was at Trader Joe's this weekend, I looked in their health & beauty section and they have aloe vera gel.  Pretty reasonable price--$3.99 for a 12 oz. bottle.  I've used it a couple of times.  So far, it's pretty soothing.  I keep it in the fridge for extra cooling.  This aloe vera has arnica (usually used for bruises) and calendula as well. 

I can't say that it's moisturizing, but I find it very difficult to find *any* lotion or cream that truly moisturizes, even in better situations.

I see my RO tomorrow and possibly my MO, too.  I guess my RO will mention if I'm getting a boost on my last tx .  After today's session, my breast really hurt.  I don't think I got a boost, though, since no one mentioned it.

I asked my rad tech today what they do with the molds after treatment ends - he said they reuse them - he compared them to those big vacuum storage bags and said they last through many patients.

Hi All ~  Thanks for all the ideas and thoughts.  Again, I'm already schooled on the purpose of my bolus, I was just confused as to the constant use of it in my case when nobody else seems to be using one for every treatment.  I got some answers today.  First of all, my margins were not very clear on either side (skin & chest wall) so I did know that the bolus was bringing the rads as close to the surface of my skin as possible.  What I found out today is that my RO is concentrating my rads now (while my skin is good) to kill as many cancer cells as possible as close to the surface of my skin as possible.  The bolus (and the concentrated rads) is very hard on my skin so my RO will only use it as long as I can take it.  Once my skin gets too bad, he'll go to using it every other time or so.  Also, having a tissue expander on that side has something to do with using the bolus as well.  The tech told me that if I had breast tissue there, they wouldn't be using it.  I see my doctor tomorrow, so I will get further clarification.  Basically I feel better knowing that there is a purpose and a plan where the bolus is concerned.  That's really what I wanted to know.

Linda ~ What time are you going in tomorrow?

SAN

linnyhopp - The actual tats are pin pricks of ink.  Sting then gone.  Have you had your planning CT?  I had mine same day as tats.  Only about 3 weeks ago and memory already fading of actual sequence of events.  Seems like some measurements on table by tech.  We worked out a position I was moderately comfortable in for rads.  Mine looks a little like torture but feels OK for short time I'm in rads.  Little more uncomfortable for planning sessions.  RO came in and laid down some kind of grid or something.  Have really no idea what it was as I was on my back positioned as I would be/am now for rads.  Then CT then tats.  Might have been tats then CT.  Can't remember. Think not long to do it all 30-40 minutes.  Then next week had sim which was supposed to be 30 minutes but I was late.  Thnk they did it in about 15-20 minutes but all was good. You might ask about what to wear.  I was marked up good with blue sharpie and this was on Good Friday.  Tech kindly took off very top of square on my upper sternum so blue did not peek out from scrubs/Easter dress.  It washed out of bra but then I got a stock of sports bras.  Placement of sticky tabs.  That was a Friday and started rads next Monday.

Had Xrays yesterday to verify positioning again.  Now red sharpie mark along with those Oh So Itchy sticky tabs.  I think I'm growing to dislike them the most in this.  That is until the "burn" really sets in.

L boob getting a little different looking.  Like can see little veins more prominently.  Caught myself scratching at my upper cleavage/farmers' tan yesterday.  Put extra cream on that last night.  Meet with RO today.  Guess I don't have any issues and would guess she doesn't have much to impart to met today either.  Just carry on with the schedule.  Made myself a countdowncalendar.  26 more to go after today.  Geesh!

Hope everyone has an unevenful day!

TTYL

welcome wishn4one!  sorry you have to join us but we are all here for each other.

I have had 12 treatments and the only problem is a very red nipple. Keep using lotion, I use Aquaphor the minute I come home from treatment and again after my shower. It is alittle greasy but not to bad, I just keep using the same shirts. So far so good. Hang in there