Any April/May 2012 rad girls out there?

Mamglam- my skin is a bit pink and sore, but no other issues. Glad I'm done! No, I don't have any pain, but, I have TE's in, so that's probably why.

I'm still exhausted. 6-8 pm feels like 2am for me.

Lory ~ I hear ya!  I am on month 9 of constant cancer treatments.  Surgery, chemo, rads...  It is a lot.  I feel for you on the drive; 100 miles is KILLER!  I only go about 65 round trip, but it gets tedious for sure.  In some ways, I have found rads more challenging than chemo.  During chemo, my whole "team" (family/friends) were engaged and cheering me on.  I was in survival mode ~ more or less.  Now, everyone seems to have returned to their regularly scheduled lives and I am still in full-time treatment mode.  I SOOOO appreciate the support I've gotten and I don't begrudge anyone getting back to their own lives, but the reality is that my cancer-treatment train just keeps on chugging along and now I feel more alone than I did before.  I shouldn't complain cuz my DH is super fantastical, but still...

So, today I had lunch with Linnyhopp ~ What a total blast!  I wish all of you could hook up with a bc sister in your area.  We laughed and ate and drank (well, I had a giant Margarita, she had to go back to work) and compared radiation burns.  Does it get any better than that??  Haha!  Also, I whipped my wig off in the restaurant to show her my "hair."  Our waitress must've thought we were crazy  

I started my boosts today.  I saw my RO and told him I wanted to negotiate how many of these I get.  He laughed and told me we would meet before my treatment next Tuesday to discuss the last few.  He's not sure my skin will hold up for all 8...we'll see.

Blessings,

SAN

Hi, I will start 25 sessions of radiation on May 14. Will check back and see what's happening.

Wiskris, I also have a seroma, and was told that to try to remove it would possibly do more harm than good.  It did shrink during rads, but it's still a whopper; RO told me that the physical therapist might be able to do some massage to try and break it up.  She said that it could take 2 years for it to completely resolve on its own.  Sigh....

 I had a GOOD day today at rads (how could the last one not be?).  I got a "graduation" certificate and lots of hugs from the techs, the nurse, and the doctor.  I'm not sorry that it's over, but I will miss seeing them.  I was a little sad because I didn't get to say goodbye to my favorite tech - he went home early today.  I don't have a follow-up appointment until November - that seems like a long time, but I guess that is her standard practice.

Itsering - welcome to the party! 

claire -- I would wonder how much experience your physical therapist has with lymphedema, like how long has she been treating this condition? Its not a new field, but certainly more "popular" now -- actually considered an "emerging field." The training is pretty strenuous but experience does count for something.

kris - so sorry to hear about the seroma. Hope you can find some comfort at least. Are you going to take a week off?

** Does anyone have any ideas for managing the seat belt in the car? My driver's side belt just hits me on the right LX/rads breast and is so uncomfortable!

Also asked about gloves and infections from node removal, and my RO said only if you've had many (define many?) nodes dissected would that even be an issue. Since I had one removed, she said non-issue. Which is good since I work in health care and do wear gloves if I have to but not all the time.

Hip Horay! for those finishing rads -- wishing you a speedy recovery and good luck with your life from this point on!

MOT, I received two small square pillows in my goodie bag when I had surgery.  One suggestion I was given was to use those pillows between you and the seat belt.  Another idea would be drape a thick bath towel over your shoulder.  And I agree with you about Claire's lymphedema therapist - I was thinking the same thing when reading her post - that the therapist sounded new or not completely educated in the subject. I would think she would be more informed about lymphedema than the doctor since she's considered a "specialist" and should know more definitively about the sleeve and when it should or should not be used.  I had a PT who was a certified lymphedema therapist and she seemed really good (only saw her twice for consultation and for an exercise program to follow taking lymphedema into account).  Since I only had 4 sentinel nodes taken out, my risk of lymphedema is minimal, but it still worries me since information on lymphedema is still evolving and there's not enough research on it.

 MizMarie - meant to say Congrats on finishing!  Yippee!

Maghery -- Congrats on your last treatment! Thanks for the bath towel suggestion. Looking for a small soft pillow too.....still have 4 weeks to drive my "hour commute" to and then back from rads. Bleech....

bethm -- Not looking forward to the boosts, but I guess that will mean rads is almost over.... good luck with yours. Here's to continuing with good skin!   Yep, it will be "weird" not to be checking on this board, but yea!

itsering -- Welcome to the board. There are alot of good suggestions here for handling treament issues. Good luck with starting rads next Monday -- get your lotions and potions ready! (And keep your sense of humor handy!)

Chickenpants reporting in..... DONE! The breasts are cooked. Survived 16 tx each breast plus the five boosts to the left. No fatigue, but the expected skin reaction for a fair skinned gal - redness and itchy hives, cracked nipples and sore armpits. Prescriptions taking care of those small issues. I'm just happy to be here. No complaints. No after affects from my brain bleed ( subarachnoid hemorrhage January 5th). I'm walking, hiking or biking for 30 - 60 minutes per day.



Just curious, did anyone else have itching in between their shoulder blades during rads?



Also, a great bra recommendation at a reasonable price is the Warner's wireless series. For Canadian gals, I got mine at The Bay.

Hi Ladies

Started rads April 23. RO recommended 25-35 treatments. I have stage 2, lumpectomy on rt side. RO wants 30 treatments but thinking of stopping at 25. Worried about long term side effects especially to heart and lungs. Doing external 3D field and find. Anybody else concerned? 

Hi Joanne

How did you do after your radiation treatment? Also, how many treatments did you get. Your DX is similiar to mine except I have no node and they havent given any Tamoxifen since I haven't reached menopause yet, Im 51. Im on my third week. Any suggestions... 

Starting on May 17. Got my tattoos this past Friday. Need 28 zaps and 7 boosts -- isn't that a lot for no node involvement. I know that since I have triple negative, my docs are really giving me everything in their arsenal, but wow, 35 daily trips.

Have any of you done rads in the AM? I need to do it before I go to work, since the last appointment is at 4pm. I work in the city and with traffic, it will take me over an hour to get to the center. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Char- I did my rads in the am. Took my kids to school, did rads, went home, changed for work, went to work. I'm fortunate that the rads center was only 15 min from my house, and, I could, for the most part, arrive late to work each day (I'm the owner). It was still exhausting, I felt that I ran between the hours of 6am and 10am each day, but, got thru it....

Hi everybody,

This is my first post here. Chickenpant, I just finished my chemo treatments in Nanaimo on Monday, and it feels soooooo good to be done with that. Still waiting for SE's to kick in. Actually did not experience too many, except during third cycle I got a very tight chest, difficulty breathing, racing heartbeat and extreme muscle fatique. Felt like crap for a week, but much better now. After chest X-ray it seems lungs and heart are okay. Drinking lots to try and minimize effects, and maybe not feel so bad again.

Will start 25 rads on May 28 if they can slot me in. Still waiting to hear from them. I want to be finished by the end of June. Wanted to start earlier with rads, but rad onc insists that I have three week of rest after chemo. It is just that my only daughter is getting married in the first week of July, and I don't want to be bothered with rads any more then. Getting a houseful of wedding guests, and want to enjoy everything with the rest. Also hope to celebrate the end of all the cancer treatments then.

I hope this thread will continue with the May and June rad girls. Congrats to all those who are done!

Char - I too am doing rads in the morning b4 work.  0740 to be exact.  Tough long day and am exhausted by the end of the day.  But then again no way that I could have made an afternoon appt.  Cannot tell you the # of times in the last 4 weeks I would have had to call them.  Can you say pi**ed off?  I think my immediate boss really doesn't even think I'm doing them because it doesn't affect her.  Have gotten a congrats from her assist. with way to go being a team player.  If that's so let me off early and don't assign extra duties.  Finally have about 5 days PTO built up and boy am I gonna use some in June.  'Course to get there I have to be on call 2 Friday nights (Memorial day weekend and the next).  And our computer charting system will be down that 1st Friday night for a complete redo.  I have about the same tx schedule as you 28 + 5 boosts and also node negative..  With you being Grade 3 and triple negative sounds like you're right about using all the guns in the arsenal.

Made my MO appt for after rads.  Might have jumped the gun 'cause I made it for the next week after finishing.  All I remember from the nurse's instructions was that "we'll see you after you finish radiation".  Only saw him one time b4 going off to rads.  Expecting Arimidex.  Oh joy.  

Getting quite sore.  Can see line on upper breast where rads end like where your bathing suit would end and sunburn begin.  Dr. says no hydrocortisone for itchies.  Just use more Xclair and Aquaphor.  Bought another cheap nightgown at Goodwill last week.  My other one won't even wash out the Aquaphor feel.   At least its keeping sheets from getting greased down.  The camis I bought from Dollar General (posted long time ago it was Wally World but not) are doing their job too.  I have not resorted to the shelf bra camis and might not have to.  Not that much pain underneath at least not yet.  I think I will look into wicking PJs as my end of rad treat.  That and the best chocolate I can find.

Wish I could see what others bring to rad center at end of tx.  Heard someone ring the big bell today.  Warning-Warning  It's loud.  I think I've had about 5 main techs.  Even had a diff. one today after 5 weeks of tx.  See lots of suggestions.  Need something quick/easy.  Sounds dumb but not really any shopping time between now and May 23 for me.  Maybe some designer cupcakes. Will google bakeries. 

MOT - My tx side is L breast not R but I bought one of those fake sheepskin seatbelt covers.  That might help.  DH bought it at O'Reilly's auto parts.  He says most auto parts (Autozone, PEP boys, maybe even Wally World) should have them.  Less than $10.

ToughTitty (Love that screen name) shouldn't be any reason to worry about heart involvement with R side tx.  I asked about heart/lung damage, mine L side.  Assured positioning and calculations minimize that.  DON'T want to fight this again so went with RO tx plan.  She came recommended and so far/so good.  Do think she is a little conservative on things she will let me have (hydrocortisone, Nystatin) but I have not bucked her on them.  I know hydrocort. is OTC and could use even without her approval.

Golly, looks like I'm writing a novel.  Actually got home early tonight but paperwork is calling as usual. Oh the joys of being salaried.