May 2012 radiation

New to this thread and have a couple of questions from this experienced group! I already had an appointment with a rad onc next week, but after my initial meeting with my oncologist yesterday, she recommended that I get a second opinion from another provider in her chain, as she felt the other may be more "traditional" with their treatments. Has anyone else visited with 2 different docs before getting rads? My concern is for my saline implants that I have had for 13 years. She too was concerned about side effects from the rads. Anyone else with this type of issue? Thanks!

Hi all,

Wow, lots of activity on this thread since I last posted. I have trouble keeping up with who said what ...

Mckenna, we are on the same schedule; my last tx is on June 18.  

Beachbum22, radiation has been more emotionally challenging than chemo for me, too.  Part of it is just because I'm already tired from 3 1/2 months of chemo, so it's harder to be upbeat.  But there's also something about radiation that makes the cancer so "in my face" -- having my shirt off and looking at my boob constantly (along with everybody else it seems).  

Like somebody else said, I'm also getting to the point where I want to pull up my shirt and ask everybody, "you wanna look at this?" Since everybody and his brother is looking at it.  And yes, this is more action than my boob has seen in a long time.

I keep my eyes closed during treatments because of all the little lights and I have this silly, irrational fear that radiation will go in my eyes if I open them!  LOL  So I've seen the manhole cover but not the teeth. ;-)  I haven't counted how long the "zaps" are, but I think I get 5 areas zapped.  I know it's at least 4, because it's the collarbone lymph nodes as well as armpit, breast, etc.

Started getting more tired this week (halfway finished) and my skin's getting a lot redder and now it's starting to ITCH!  So far I've just been using aloe vera gel but I may need something else.

Oh, and Joanne2012, I'm 55.  So, not very young. ;-) 

Hi everyone. I'm just starting Radiation...on May 24th. I have to have 35 of them. I'm like a few others who is having a rough time.... very emotional and anxious.....about the radiation. I had my surgery, lumpectomy and complete axillary dissection (all my lymph nodes were cancerous), and just completed chemo. I am afraid that not having the chemo working in me makes me feel less safe and while it was rough, I felt secure in knowing the chemo was killing the cancer throughout my body. With my advanced stage and in numerous lymph nodes, my main concern is metastisis. Right now the the Radiation is just so impersonal. I know it's a very technical field, but the technicians are nothing like the warm and loving nurses I grew close to in chemo. Being exposed, having a male tech try to make jokes while I lie partially naked, then alone in the room with this big machine hovering over me just makes me feel terrible. I really hate it. There. I said it. I really do hate it. Somehow it feels better just to say it. I get tired sometimes of trying to put a positive bent on the treatment. Hope this is not too discouraging. I feel like I've needed to share it with someone, because I'm trying to be strong and positive for myself and my loved ones. Thanks for listening....

jnb....there now you've said it! Ya gotta feel better for that. Just imagine how much greater you will feel once it's done. Look down the road to the light at the end of the tunnel...it's there. I wish you no SEs and stay with us. I know what you mean about the techs tho...especially the males...it's so day in day out for them. I found the older females the most caring but the ordeal takes such a short time I guess they don't have time for small talk, even tho it might make us feel more comfortable. Good Luck!

Wow. I can't tell you how much it means to hear from those of you who had a chance to write. I am so grateful that you are helping me feel not so alone. Thank you, all of you. God bless you as you go through your treatments. And thank you so much for the encouragement. It really helps to know you are all there, and truly understand. I agree with you lemondrop19 that the chemo was harder physically, but that having to go every day just keeps it in the forefront of my thoughts. I am also very glad to have this Monday off. Hope you are all enjoying quality time.

jnbg88:  I also found the first week of radiation to be emotional and the machinery intimidating.  It was much better the second week.  With the third week coming up I feel like it is just a quick thing, and my attention is turning more to how the skin feels.

The technicians have always been women, very nice, always have a concerned manner (but do the job without deviation).  I asked if they deal with all cancers, like prostate, or if there are men technicians.  They said they deal with all, and that there are very few men in the radition treatment field. 

Jan24 -- no time now to be private-- that is WAY gone .... we can now talk about anything!!!  Please be generous with the lotion --- I had a burnt boob and nipple and that was SOOOOO painful - almost 2 weeks before I could comfortably wear a bra. 

I have 4 tattoos -- 2 in the middle of my chest and 2 at the side of my breast -- they were little pin pricks -- look like black heads (yuk)  -- would rather have this then have the techs mark me up all the time.

I have 4 tattoos as well, 3 in the middle and 1 on the side (under my arm).  Even with the tattoos they still put blue ink on me every morning (it has ruined one of my new 'non-underwire' bras)!  Although, last Friday one of the male techs made the ink really light -- he said for the weekend (I thought that was so sweet of him - especially since for the most part the techs are not that friendly).  One of the women in the waiting area said that she uses hand sanitizer to take hers off - I am going to try that tomorrow on the one that is most noticeable.

My skin is doing well, but I am already tired, and my breast is really sore (on the inside) sometimes.  All that after only 5 days ... I can't wait to see what this week brings (not) 

It was a tough weekend, we had to put one of our dogs to sleep.  It has not been a good year for me, my Mom died in August (it was exactly a year ago this weekend that she told me that she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer), I have been sick since about January, and now my dog Keiko is gone.  Whew.  What a ride.  Getting old is not for sissies.  

I did not miss getting up and going to rads this morning ...

Enjoy the rest of your evening ladies -- good luck this week!  Stay strong!! 

BL you've really been put through the wringer, and I'm so sorry for that.  Sending big hugs your way.

BLinthedesert: Hang in there sorry for the tough year and everything seems worse when you don;t feel well. I will add you to my prayer list

hope everyone has a good week( only 4 days!) at radiation

BLinthedesert, if I could make molasses cookies for anyone in Arizona, I'd make them for you and your family.  What a miserable time for you, dear sister.  Like jittersmom, I'll add you to my prayer list. 

Don't you wish the application of aloe and aquaphor would soothe all the rawness in our lives? 

OK...time to make fresh coffee, park my hat on its hook in my office, and get down to work!  Happy Tuesday, everyone, and may our cancer cells all just get in line for the bug zapper today. 

P.S.  When I'd just finished chemo, a friend at work said, "The chemo killed all the fleas.  Now the radiation just has to finish off all the nits."  Now that's a visual!

sbelizabeth......good way to explain it to people who keep asking why do you have to have both??

Hope you don't mind if i use it!