June 2012 Radiation Rads

Morning ladies,

Nancy HB Thanks for the tip on the tanks may add some as they will be much cooler, have to see what colors I don't already have.

I have an appointment today for a recheck of the scans I had done 2 weeks ago and begin rads tomorrow this may be because I am going to a different place then where I had the  original scans.I tried to get it started on Monday but apparently for what ever reason it takes them that long to set things up according to the scans.Or at least that is what they told me.I also read on line somewhere that they like to start 3 days first then the weekend break,so maybe that is really what is going on here.

Denise have not yet ordered the Emu Oil think I will try to do this today and check out Amazon.Thanks for the tip.

Planning on opening the pool this weekend and I am sure they will say no pool that is why I am not asking.I figure I am smart enough to know if I have more than slight sunburn feel not to put that part of my body in and to also make sure it doesn't get exposed to the sun.Also think If you wash off the chlorine immediately after should be OK.We will see.

The chemo brain must be clearing not as many spelling errors  

I will keep posted of how everything goes  

Great day to all 

Goodie - lucky they are able to avoid your lung...



My RO has said because I need axilla rads there's no way of avoiding my lung. She thinks about 5% of it will end up in the field. I got the impression that she thinks I may end up with pneumonitis :-(



I'm 46yrs and the thought of permanent lung damage sucks...



Jenn

Goodie wishing you the best tommorow and please try not be too nervous.I also am starting to feel a bit nervous but there is no turning back now. 

Thanks mckenna!  I do seem more emotional since my surgery.  I cry very easily lately.

Imlola - good luck to you tomorrow too! 

So I am not the only one having horrific hot flashes/night sweats?  I haven't made it longer that two or three hours on any given night in the last several weeks without waking up multiple times.  It's as if my body knows what's coming and wakes me up just at the flash starts to hit.  I have fondly taken to referring to them as "Mildred, you b*tch."  I can't abide clothing.  Anything I wear just ends up wet, anyway.

Good luck tomorrow, Goodie and lmlola59.  I'll be thinking good thoughts for both of you!

One down.  27 more to go!  It wasn't bad at all.  I just had to lay still for like 45 straight minutes to get everything all set up.  They said it will be much quicker from here on out!  And I got my regular appointment time to be 8 a.m.  I am thrilled.  I can be the first appointment and have the rest of the day uninterupted.  The nurse also recommended Miaderm and/or California Baby calendula cream.  I bought them both. 

I am starting Rad on June 4th -- had the tattoos and measuring yesterday -- no one said anything at all to me about deodorant or creams -- I love this site and I'm learning a lot.  THANK YOU!  Will be staying in touch -- comforting to go through this with others xoxoxo

Goodie so glad everything went smoothly

Had first rad yesterday also only I got stuck with 1130 yuk.I told them as I am not yet back to work that I wanted 900 or 930 since I am still not on a very early schedule since chemo. Don't get up till 6 then read this board to wake up before I exercise,then shower and have breakfast and it is a 1/2 hr ride to the clinic so thought that would be good to start.I did get on a waiting list as she said they have people finishing every week.

I arrived about 1125 scanned in put on the johnny and they came to get me pretty much right on time.I was out of there before 12 even after changing back and they wanted me to meet with the nurse.It is the same one I just met with 2 weeks ago an we went over everything already so I was right out.I will have to meet with the nurse once a week and the doctor once a week plus have a scan each week so this will also take a bit more time.

Pretty uneventfull right now,just lay down they position me and measure with a small ruler according to Tuesdays stats and off we go.The actual rads is under 2 minutes I believe.If I didn't see it on the side of me I would think nothing at all is happening.I am sure I will feel different when I begin to turn pink.I did use the Aloe 3 times yesterday even though they told me to wait and see.

Has anyone else been told not to take any vitamins or supplements during this process? 

Today I have to go earlier as I have a gyno appointment at 12 to see if all is well in that region before Tamox YIPEE 

Great day all 

I'll hunt out my piece of paper with the details on it (how many Gy etc) in the morning Nancy and put them on here for you. It's pretty much the standard in Canada which is why you see most of them only doing 16days or 25days (with the boost).



Jenn

Yes thank youn lmlola for sharing your experience. it really does help to hear from others.

Thank you Denise for sharing as well. I haven't really thought much about the tattoos. Did it hurt? That is something I'm not looking forward to.

Jenn thanks for the info about the pen. Never thought about that. Ewww.

Hi All,

New to this thread.  Wonderful info above.  I have my mapping 5/30 and then will get my schedule fofr 30 rads.  Anxious to have it begin and over.  The journey has been long.  I had my last chemo on May 18th and was told I would have to wait at least two weeks bfore RO would begin rads, so I am hoping June 4th.  We will see. 

I will be receiving Herceptin  every 3 weeks , so twice during rads.  Has anyone else.  I had herceptin at the beginging of my treatment with little SE"s so hoping the two will be OMK together.  My MO and RO assure me they will. 

Gentle Day

Nel

Hi ladies,

Tats as Denise said is just a 3 second pain but made me realize there is no way I could do this in a large area.So today when I had my rads I paid more attention and realized when there are 2 red lights (might be a word it is on the sides and I can't see it but can see that it is lit)that turn on as it is delivering and was shocked that I am only getting two doses that last about 20 seconds each.I am going to count it out tommorrow and see for sure I asked the woman doing it and she  said they don't show any times. Its extremely fast for me as position is basically nothing also.I suppose if they have to work harder at this it takes more time.

Denise did they mention whether they are ok with you continuing vitamins and supplements?  

Day two was even easier.  They just line you up with all the markers and then start and it's over before you know it.  I'm going to count tomorrow too and see exactly what they are doing.  I think I have three zaps.

Ugh - the tatoo.  I really don't like tatoos and I was going to refuse it but I didn't feel like fighting that battle.  It's just a tiny dot for me between my foobs and like a 3 second pain. 

I haven't talked about supplements lately either.  Would like to hear what people are "allowed" to take. 

WOW MiniMacsMom, that would mean 25 days plus another 10-16 days so a potential of 41 days. I have never heard of anyone having that much radiotherapy. The 25 standard is normal but the usual number of boosts is 8 or very rarely 10.



Maybe start a new thread titled "Has anyone else had 35-41 days of rads?" and see if anyone has had this number?



I'd be asking the reason for this high number of boosts and ask for the safety profile to be explained to you properly. The usual max number of Grays (Gy) to the boost area at the end of treatment is somewhere between 72Gy (Canadian 16day protocol with boosts) and 64.4Gy to 66Gy (for standard 25days plus boosts).



I'm having 28 days of full breast and axilla at 1.8Gy/day giving a total of 50.4Gy in those areas. I am getting IMRT radiation which allows them to have different amounts in the field so during that whole 28 days the area of my tumor bed will be targeted (boosted) with 2.3Gy/day instead of the lower amount to the rest of the breast etc. That means that boost area will actually have gotten 64.4Gy total. It's called concurrant (at the same time) boosts. So my breast and axilla will get 50.4Gy and the boost area will get 64.4Gy.



Nancy - I think you asked about the Canadian protocol? The details for that my RO wrote down for me was that it added up to 72Gy to the boost area over 16days whole breast plus 8 days of boosts. She really wasn't happy to go for that option for me.



Jenn

Denise I was told by the RO no vitamins or supplements during the rads because as you know from Chemo they don't want you to do antioxidants.But I continued during chemo my B12,calcium,D3 and Glucosamine (for my joints).I wanted to also start the Biotin and Curcumin but he objects to all.I may continue with what I was taking as  these are not antioxidants so I am also checking with you girls to see what you were told.I hate to stop taking these and then have to start from scratch.I feel it takes a while to get them into your system.

Minimacmoms Wow that does sound like a lot.I was just told that the longer regimen has the same amount it is spread out more that is all.But the boost is definitely significant.I would thnk you will be seeing him again so I would definitely ask for  more of an explanation.As Jennt28 suggest a new thread may help here.Sorry I can't be of any help.