May 2012 radiation

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited May 2012
    Silvia ... we haven't heard from you in a while, I  hope you are doing OK. 
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  • JNS
    JNS Member Posts: 24
    edited May 2012

    Hi all, I also started radiation in May and am scheduled to finish on 6/27.  Two things that might be of interest: (1) I asked my RO today about the radiation delivery (like an earlier poster, my session goes: the teeth are all open, there's a 10-15 second buzz, the teeth close and there's a 1-2 second buzz, then the whole device shifts to the other side and goes through the same steps), and he said the initial long buzz doesn't actually deliver any radiation--it's only when the teeth (aka collimators) are closed that there's any radiation. (2) This might be weird, but since I use Aquaphor 2-3 times a day, if I need to wear clothes or a bra that I don't want to get greasy, I cut a square of saran wrap, and lay it over my boob--it keeps the Aquaphor away from my clothes and also reduces the clothing friction!  When I get home, I just peel off the saran wrap--no muss, no fuss!

    Hope everybody is having minimal or no side effects today. :) 

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited May 2012

    JNS - Brilliant! I have the same problem with the Aloe Vera, but tomorrow I'll take Saran Wrap to work for after treatment.



    1/3 done today!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited May 2012

    Spoke I was wondering ably you and Silvia. Now I have visuals of you all walking around in Saran wrap :

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited May 2012

    mckenna - alive and kicking! Pinking up a bit, and a weird blotchy pink-purple area on the underside of the breast, kind of like a strawberry birthmark, but no pain there. The rest of the breast has some tenderness that comes and goes, but I'd call it more like discomfort than burning. Somewhat unpleasant, but certainly tolerable. More concerning, I'm feeling odd discomfort in the UNaffected breast. My roller-coaster started last November with me finding the lump, led there by "odd discomfort," almost like a bruise. This doesn't feel the same, but every twinge is unnerving, right?

    JNS - I've already changed my mind about the Saran Wrap. You're a stronger woman than I! Smile I tried it tonight when I got home, and didn't like the feeling of it sticking to a large area of skin. I think I'll just go au naturel in my apartment when I need to air dry and at work, well, I just figured out today that my office door locks, so maybe the same there. Yikes! Embarassed (Not a pretty picture, but a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do.) I've been skimping on the cream and lotion because it was such a mess, but no more... I'm a convert!

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited May 2012

    ha ha ha ... Spokanellie -- you go girl!!  I am not sure which "picture is funnier" wrapped in saran wrap or au naturel in the office .... but do whatever you need!!!  I could not imagine that the saran wrap would work for me ... it would be too hot.  

    My breast is super tender (from the inside out), but so far, the skin is good.  The worst for me - the freaking fatigue.  By the end of the day I am just so tired I can't do anything. 

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited May 2012

    all I could think of last night was how hot it would be with the saran wrap .... maybe if you had a baby washcloth or something like that -- it would take the mess from the cream and protect your clothing but not be sticky or hot ....

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited May 2012

    Anticipating my final rad, I'm ordering personalized M&M's for my doc and her staff as a departing gift.  I can add a couple different messages, anyone have any clever ideas?  I'm not so gifted in the creative department.  I hope they won't be offended with 'No More Rads Yea!'    I'll be happy when they see my face on an M&M instead of the treatment table..oh yeah.

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited May 2012

    spoke, i am laughing in my office right now!  i am reading some chic lit book and the woman was talking about when she is pumping, she puts a sign on her door with a photo of her baby and it says, call or email me if you need assistance but do not open the door!!!  i think you need a sign like that :)

    sorry about the fatigue BL, i was really tired last night and seema little tired today.  i hope this is not the start of fatigue :(

    so i am half way done and thought i would be more happy.  but all i can think about is that the first half seemed like forever and i now have to repeat it.  also, for those of you that have burns, i worry if i get them, i won't be able to go to radiation every day and let them burn me more.  how do you psycologically prepare yourself to go to rads if your skin is already burnt?  last question, does your facility have a bell you ring when you are done with rads.  i hate it, i will not ring it. 

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  • Dizzy215
    Dizzy215 Member Posts: 74
    edited May 2012

    Well, after posting yesterday that I had no SE's, l suddenly felt whacked in the late afternoon and went for a lie down for an hour. Felt better afterwards, but I hope it's not the onset of fatigue. Made myself go out for a 4 mile walk in the beautiful sunshine this morning.

    My breast was soooo tender last night too....from the inside. Like I had after the first session, but worse. I also have a sore area in my ribs at the back - feels like I've been kicked - I'm going to ask my RO about it today. 

    I'm with you Mckenna, how can you go everyday with burnt skin to get more radiation? That must be so hard. My respect to those ladies that suffered but persevered. Don't know if my facility has a bell....I'll ask today. Can't say that I've heard it so far. 

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited May 2012

    I don't think we have a bell.

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited May 2012

    my facility didn't have a bell so I took in my own party ....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB0Uiq4NTs0

    the rad techs were so kind to me and blew them for me when they came back in after my treatment ....

    McKenna --- what can Spoke's sign say .... ;)

    Jan24 -- love the idea of the M&M's --- I looked on the site -- limit of letters -- can put THANK YOU on one side ... and what about "I am so DONE" .....

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited May 2012

    Hello Jan, here I am, doing good thank you for asking! :-)

    Today is my 25th treatment with gamma rays and tomorrow I am starting 5 boosts! I talked to my doctor yesterday and we agreed on 5 boosts rather than 8 ... I told her I read online about 5 boosts being more common and why do I have to have 8... and all of sudden she doesn't see a strong reason why should I be getting 8.  So 5 it is. Once again it just confirmed one fact : this adjuvant cancer therapy is a guess work.

    My skin is holding up very well so far (knock, knock). The technicians have been using a "bolus" (a tissue equivalent substance to bring rays stronger to the surface of the skin - I think some of you might use it as well) on me every day, and that little area is far more red and tender. But the only real problem is the skin under one sticker. They put stickers on to mark the bolus area. So the skin where the sticker was is all scabby and painful. I took it off after all and now they say the sticker wasn't really necessary there.. that they put way too many stickers on me... really? I didn't have to have any problems if only they thought about this better.

    So anyway, end of complaints, overall I feel good, I can't feel the signs of capsular contractions around the silicone which is and was my major worry, so all is fine. Happy to be finished with all this on June 7!!!!

    McKenna - we have a bell. I don't really feel like ringing it either. I feel like saying adios and go for a drink instead. Lol.

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2012

    Is the bell for when you're totally done?  So confused!  LOL.

    So  a weird thing about my appointment yesterday.  When I walked to where the cat scan room was, I walked past both rads rooms.  In the hallway, there are monitors of inside the rads rooms.  I saw a man getting treatment on what looked like his stomach, as I walked by.  It really makes me wonder who all is going to see my boobs when they walk by!  I'm really to the point where I'm angry at my boob and I just don't care much about it at this point so showing it to any of the medical staff now isn't worrisome to me at all.  (Keep in mind I haven't had any young, cute men helping me.)  BUT I don't like the idea of showing my scarred girls off to the general public!  CRIKEY!

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited May 2012

    Neeners -- I know that my techs could see this from what was a PRIVATE area and not visible to the rest of us ... they sat there once they started the radiation ... I would be questioning this for sure ... I would not want anyone to see me lying on the table with my boob exposed ... not right !!!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited May 2012

    neeners, the bell is for when you are totally done.  i would love a drink when i am done but i have to go to work, maybe i will take the day off and have lunch with my mom ;)  thanks for the idea.  when i get rads, i am covered i am only uncovered when they are positioning me.

    silvia, glad to hear your end day has been moved up!!!

    let's think of what spokes sign should say and what jan's m&m's should say, maybe, if you've seen one, you've seen em' all :)

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  • Dizzy215
    Dizzy215 Member Posts: 74
    edited May 2012

    Silviazara - interesting that you got your boosts reduced. I think I am to have 8 and would be very interested to read that article to which you refer - can you post a link?  

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  • jittersmom
    jittersmom Member Posts: 165
    edited May 2012

    Silviazare....today was treatment #26 for me and the marked and measured and the Dr came in to check so they are getting ready for my boosts. He said after #28 so that would be 5 for me

    I am very sore on the side under my arm, and am hoping that the boost over the tumor site will give me some relief.

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited May 2012

    Dizzy - I didn't read any article, I read through breast cancer forums. 25 treatments + 5 boosts is from what I could find the most common treating of the stage I cancer. So I asked her out of curiosity why should I be getting 8. My doctor said yes, she usually gives 5 boosts, but she considered 8 for me as I had a recurrence. But now on the second thought, since my tumor was so small and got out within margins right at the first attempt, she thinks I can only have 5 boosts. She said she doesn't want to give me any more radiation than absolutely necessary. Also, I have the bolus on the area during radiation, skin is getting very red there. I am happy to have 3 less boosts, but if she would strongly suggest 8, I would of course go with it.

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  • etherize
    etherize Member Posts: 423
    edited May 2012

    I realized why I'm not keeping up with this thread -- it wasn't on my favorite topics!  So I kept thinking there were no new messages.  

    BLinthedesert, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dog, as well as your mom's passing in August.  Nobody provides comfort like a beloved pet; they never question, never give unwanted advice.  They always think you're right. ;-)  Just unconditional love.  You're so right that getting old ain't for sissies!

    Jan24, I just got my first "blister" (more like peeling) and came home today with the sulfa/silver cream to put on it.  My armpit ached like mad yesterday after rads and I figured it was lymphedema acting up, then this morning, sure enough, the skin is peeling there.  I sure hope rads don't make my LE any worse.

    beachbum22, I am SO with you on the whole thing about having your top off in front of young male radiation therapists. There are THREE that I deal with daily.  Sometimes there are women, too, but it's those young guys ... sheesh.  Yesterday was a new one, and as I'm flat on my back with my gown wide open, this dude comes over with his ruler, and I blurt out "Who are YOU?!" LOL It was kind of blunt.  But I figure I should at least know the first names of everybody who's poking around my naked boobs.

    sbelizabeth, that's a little creepy about the radiation scatter going over your eye mask.  I knew there was scatter, but when they actually admit it and you realize it's going all over ... eesh.  

    mckenna, it WAS weird going in today with a burn under my arm, knowing I'm going to get more burned.  But it's not really like a "burn", it's more that the skin is peeling.  And it doesn't hurt, so that's good.  I don't think there's a bell at my facility but I hope not.  I don't want to ring a bell, but I'll join silviazara and get a drink instead. ;-) 

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited May 2012

    My bs just called with my brac results. I did not test positive but there was a gene mutation they just don't know what it is. So I have to fill out more paper work then they will say which of my family memembers need to be tested to see if they need to treat me as positive or negative. She said 90% of these mutations are negative. Nothing about this cancer has been typical so why would I think it should be with this.



    On a lighter note. I decided to take off work the last day of rads and my mom and I are going to lunch at sweetie pies. It is the restaurant from the OWN network and my mom has been wanting to go.



    Ether sorry about the peeling skin :(

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2012

    Joanne - yeah, I don't want my wounded girls on display.  I'm definitely going to say something.  

    I bought some corn starch today.  When the RO's nurse told me that people use that, I sort of thought she was joking.  I wondered if I would smell like a baker.  BUT if it prevents burnt skin, worth smelling a little different for a month and a half!

    I'm going to try to get back into walking.  Today I did my walking tape for the first time in a while.  I have the relay for life coming up in June. 

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited May 2012

    Okay, ladies. Here's my new sign -

    I need a little privacy for about 10 minutes. If it's
    an emergency, knock. (If you've seen one, you've seen ‘em all!)

    ~~ Ellen

    It's taped to the back of my door, ready and waiting for the next application of Miaderm and Aloe.

    Thanks, for the inspiration, mckenna.  Laughing Laughing



     

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited May 2012

    hahaha Ellen - love it!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited May 2012

    Love it!!!!



    Neeners I don't think there is any smell with the cornstarch. I filled the foot of panty hose and then powder the radiation field.

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited June 2012

    Neeners - I used cornstarch in the foot of pantyhose too -- used it like a powder puff --  and when you are finished ... use the rest for gravy ...lol (I only use cornstarch to thicken gravy).

    Ellen -- you need a picture too -- love it!

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2012

    Happy to hear from you Silvia, I'm with you regarding the drink.  I too will have 5 boosts after rad #28.  I think you might be the 1st of our May Forum group to finish...I will be thinking of you on June 7th.  I'm in the Palm Springs area, however I had my surgery in LA, I'm wondering if by any coincidence we had the same surgeon.  I went to the Revlon Breast Center at UCLA .

    You go girl Spokanellie, I love your spirit.  I have 2 sisters living in Spokane and my Dad & Stepmother live there in the summer months.  I plan to visit there often this summer as my Dad is battling Lung Cancer.  If you're up for it we can make a plan to cross paths.

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2012
    Joanne53 & Neeners  I am laughing out loud about the gravy and cornstarch, that's the only time I've ever used cornstarch too... you are so funny.
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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited June 2012

    Jan24 - it was really refreshing however under my boobs ... lol

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2012

    Somehow I missed a bunch of your posts, I think I'm caught up now.  I too have a young man.  Etherize, no peeling yet fingers are crossed and crossed for McKenna's final BRAC outcome. 

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