Any April/May 2012 rad girls out there?

Michbunny ~ Just wanted to say that my rad onc also told me that the corn starch can really be a mess under the breast.  She told me that if you have moisture there and add the powder, you can end up with a nasty "pancake-like" substance under there.  Eeeuuuwww!  I think I will buy some flannel just in case I need it.  Let me know if it works for you, OK?

San ~ Posted to you on the November forum.  So glad the "guys" at our place took care of you.  It is so true that pain is the great equalizer.  I think I will forever be a much more empathetic person from experiencing all the treatments and the side effects they have caused.  Who wouldn't need to have an emotional release at some point?  I am waiting for it to happen to me, too! 

Happy thoughts for a happy weekend to all!

1 week left..5 more treatments..phew

One week and 2 days left for me...  I had the first of 8 boosts yesterday; only two tangential beams with it, instead of the 8 I had been getting with IMRT.  I am plenty pink, especially along the fold at the bottom, but I am most bothered by the swelling and achiness.  RO didn't have much to say about it, other than it appears "normal".  I am on a wait list to see a lymphedema specialist, but it will be at least a month before he has an opening....

Glad to hear most everyone is doing OK.  I am thankful for the break, and hope you all have a great weekend!

Claire, I did ACT (and am doing Herceptin for a year). I did not ice my nails. For me it seems that the pinky toenails are the only nails that I have observed that are lifting up from the beds. No changes to my thumb nails as of yet.



For those getting 16 treatments (I believe the Canadian ladies), are the treatments a higher dose of radiation? Just curious about the difference in the number of treatments that you are receiving versus the number of treatments that the majority of us who are located to the south of you are receiving.

My shoulder is sore as all get out today... could it be the radiation?  I don't know if I could put my hands in the radiation position today if I had to, I think I'd need help.

Thanks luvmygoats.  It's loosening up, the longer I'm awake, but it's still ouchy.  I'll try a some stretches and a little advil.  I've been taking a benadryl at bedtime (on RO's instructions) the last couple of nights and got the best nights sleep I've had in days last night... I wonder if I didn't just sleep funny?  Everything is just getting harder.  I'm still trying to walk, but someone keeps moving the mile markers farther apart

 Yes just the breast.  The sore part of the shoulder is maybe 5 inches from the far edge of the treated area.

 They do really make me crank my right (sore) are up over my head to keep it out of the way and I think it would be sore, even if they weren't doing rads.   I'm not sure that I'm not going to need someone to just string me up and cut me down if this keeps on...  Ah well. 18 more days...

Michbunny - Anything special about the flannel?  Fiber content or where you bought it?  I tried putting one of those cotton cosmetic pad thingies in my cleavage as the sports bras squeeze my boobs together so tight and was getting irritation.  It stayed about 2 minutes before wiggling right back out.  Maybe the flannel is the way to go.  Used to pad by LX site with a folded man's handkerchief before rads made everything so tight/swollen.  Would cut those up to use, too.

The top of my throat feels scratchy almost sore. I think they told me its lingering effects of chemo.



I keep biting side of my tongue. Its a little bit swollen i guess. Think that a sign of anemia. Had some steak last night. My appetite is still not there yet. Guess my stomach has shrunk some from the days when i wasnt eating much on chemo

Lory - Might I ask where you bought the baby washcloths. Think I've looked for them, though must admit not recently, and only found in sets with hooded towels. Sounds like a good idea too.  HOT here in North Texas already.  90s last week. Thanks.

Really sore this weekend. 15 down, 18 to go (5 of those are boosts).  Don't feel like I'm ready to start again tomorrow.

luvmygoats, the flannel is a lot softer than the cotton pads (I tried those, too).  It's brushed cotton, so it's more gentle against the skin.  I had an old baby receiving blanket, so I washed it, dried it, and cut it into strips.

Started end of March. End date May 10th. Then the pill starts. I hope I can take it. I am so allergic to everything.

First time posting so I hope to have some friends here. I don't have a support group because I don't like driving at night.

I have swelling in my arm and numbeness in upper arm. My skin is holding up but I get very tired. Don't want to do anything. I am 65. Had lumpectomy same age as my mom. She is cancer free so I guess there is hope.

think I will try the cold packs too.

I am in NY. 

Hi Ang7894, and welcome!  You are starting rads on the day I will have my final zap.  I also have 33 treatments; 25 regular and 8 boosts.  I just started boost on Friday.  Many will say that rads is a breeze compared to chemo.  I would not say it is easier, just different.  Your mileage may vary :-).  I am still getting Herceptin every 3 weeks, so there are just two days where there needs to be coordination of treatment times.  It has not been a problem at all.  Hang in there - time will pass more quickly than you think~

Fran, I agree. I want to be waited on hand and foot but it's just a pipe dream for me! Could really use a man in my life right now so I could put him to good use! Ha, ha, jk. Oh, and my BS offered to write me a prescription that would get me out of housework for 5 years! My sister was not amused.



Ang7894: I understand how you feel. When i was first dx, i was so concerned about all the appointments I would have in a short amount of time. It was very stressful. I've been treated at 5 or 6 different facilities - 1 place for chemo (an hour away), surgery at another hospital (closer to home), radiation at another hospital (chose this hospital b/c it would be convenient when I returned to work), I get herceptin at Sloan Kettering in NYC b/c close to work, had a blood transfusion at yet another place and finally, ended up in another hospital when i came down with pneumonia. Whew, that's confusing. Basically I was all over the place but somehow I was able to work it out - I couldn't imagine at the beginning that I would have been able to handle it and keep it all straight in my head (I can be very unorganized in my personal life). I'm not sure of your situation or the location of your treatments so it would be hard to give suggestions to you. When I get herceptin, the doctor takes my bloods - not every time though. Who r u getting the bloods for? RO office should be able to do their own bloods as well. If I had to get bloods outside of scheduled appts I would go to a lab to have them done. I'm in NY and lucky to have many choices of medical facilities as well as having family and close friends who work in oncology. Hope you can coordinate your appts in a way that works for you! And welcome to the rads group!

Hi Jubby -- You are almost FINISHED with rads! Only 9 more treatments! If you are concerned about the arm swelling, I hope you have talked with your RO. Mine took both arm measurements on my first consult day just for a baseline. You may need a prescription to see a physical therapist who specializes in lymphedema -- don't delay. I'm sorry your mom also had BC, but it is almost a different ballgame today with new meds and more specialized treatments, including rads. I will be 60 next week and I plan to be around a few more years!

I always think about the phrase **God/The Universe doesn't give you more than you can handle**  Ang -- you will figure it all out, please believe me. It all seems sooo over whelming in the beginning or whenever a new wrinkle (treatment or whatever) is added. But we just plod along and soon that is conquered/overcome/finished. Know that you can vent here and get lots of support from all of us who have been there.