June 2012 Radiation Rads

Similarily I had a small mass show up in the other breast on the MRI before my surgery and it was biopsied.  Turned out to be "benign breast tissue".  I got the impression the radiologist might haved missed it altogether from how the pathology report was written.  They ended up recommending another MRI in 6 months to monitor it. My MRI biopsy experience sucked.  Such an uncomfortable position, the pain killer didn't work and it left a lot of scar tissue in that breast, which my husband is slowly removing with acupuncture. Hope your experience is not as bad.

Both my surgeon and radiology oncologist said they don't believe it's anything to worry about.  I suspect the folks that read the MRI images point out anything at all in order to protect themselves from being sued down the road.

I am hoping to start Monday afternoon, depending on whether a wound is completely healed. I had a post-surgical staph infection (twice, one for each lumpectomy).

Then 16 doses (the Canadian standard for DCIS). Then 8 boosts in July.

The RO said that the treatment plan is pretty hot. Yikes.

I am counting on the list here for some good ideas in coping. Thanks!

Hi everybody out there who will be starting Rad. I just finished on Thursday and want to say to all of you that it is all doable. You will find that rad techs are like angels...they make everything so much easier to endure and don't be afraid to ask them for anything you need, be it different schedule, advice, skin prep etc, etc, etc. I was terrified initially and after my first treatment, I really enjoyed going there everyday (I know, sounds crazy)

As a matter of fact, I'm going through some withdrawal symptoms at the moment like who is taking care of me now? Of course, this will pass. Good luck to all of you starting. My thoughts will be with you all

The worst part for me was when the 'rad angels' left the room....I felt very alone so I asked them to let me know what was going on along the way. They did this for me everyday and I was fine. You will be fine. Just keep on top of any skin problems. These problems usually begin after the third week. You have been through so much, radiation will be a breeze for you.

I didn't see anyone having internal radiation? I'm getting it starting on the 11th. I go on Thursday to get the ballon implanted, RO on Friday to get scanned. I don't know what to expect. Has anyone been through it? If so what can I expect? Can I work? Will it hurt? I need to research this because I don't know what to expect. I am thrilled it is for only 5 days, twice a day instead of 30+ treatments.

RO discussed the internal rads.  However, my breast is too small.  Here, it's part of a clinical trial and the recurrence info isn't as exact as whole breast radiation.  I am going with the whole.  I am praying this hematoma clears up soon so I can start.  

Scottie - what's a rads angel?  And could anyone else see them besides you?    (just kidding!)  Interesting comment regarding the underwire bra.  I wonder if sports bras would be uncomfortable?  I really have no idea - nobody really answered my bra question in the other thread.

Mtalsky - it's several pages long, but go take a look at the May rads thread.  I'm pretty sure one or two of the ladies had the balloon thingie.  I asked my RO, too, but he said it was too intense (?) for me.  He must have known I was a wimp

Lagata - Ohhh.  Maybe seeing the RO will be niiiice

Akinto - thanks for the info on the new site.  I'm definitely going to check it out.  I agree: f it! 

No shaving?  WHAT?  Mine did not tell me that.  If I lived in Europe, ok, maybe.  But no way am I not shaving here.  It's stinky enough even using that Tom's Natural deodorant!

I was told definitely no shaving, even electric shaver. I complied and found it all doable.

The secret for me was all cotton, very, very loose tops. Doing the saline solutions cut down on any odor.

Mtalsky,  I just finished my internal radiation last week.  I got a bit tired but got through the work week.  My first treatment was at 8:30am and last was at 3:15pm every day and in between I went into work.  I wasn't very active and did a lot of work at my desk so it is doable if you don't have to be very active.  The port is the worst part of the whole thing and it is not that bad.  It is just aggravating to have it strapped under your armpit and you will need to wear loose tops over it.  They used the bra they sent me home from the hospital in and gave me an extra to change into if the port leaked (and it did).  The procedure is painless......just a little tingling inside and then it is done.  I didn't get any redness outside but one other person on another thread reported some redness after the last treatment.  I asked about this and they told me some people do and others don't get burned outside.

My fatigue was bad the weekend after the treatment.  I basically slept away the Memorial Day weekend.  By Tuesday I was almost back to normal and a week after, I'm up til about 11pm and starting to exercise a bit.

Good luck!  Let me know if you have further questions!

No need worry about your armpit hair: None of us will be exposing our top halfs to the sun for quite a while, I think. Better to leave the skin to rest and not scrape off skin with the hair!

 I just bought an SPF 50 t shirt to wear with my bathing suit for our vacation at a lakeside cottage after my rads. So there's no way to see my armpit!

Haven't read it but will certainly look for it at my local bookstore. I was told not to use an electric razor......use nothing......better not to irritate the skin. Mine finally broke down this

weekend and had to visit my walk-in clinic to be told I had a FUNGUS even though I was

so compliant in following "orders" so be very careful.

Thanks DorisMarie for telling her about the NO SHOWER!  Make sure you take a long deep shower before your catheter gets placed.  There is no shower until that baby comes out!  They even made me wait 24 hours longer because of drainage when they removed it.  I did find out that Super Cuts will give you a shampoo for about $4.00 and did this midweek. 

They made me wear the surgical bra they provided.  It was very comfortable and they gave me a second one on my first day to switch around in.  

I started letrozole 3 weeks before I started radiation. My MO said that some RO's don't like you doing this because if you have any reactions, they don't know if it was because of radiation or HT. I said I didn't care, I wanted to get started on HT as soon as possible..5 years is a long time..the sooner the better I say....good luck with the rads.

My rads CT scan and tatoo session is tomorrow. Should be interesting as the pneumonitis that I already have from the chemo, and any permanent lung damage it has caused, should be visible on the scan...



The MO was going to let the RO know about the pneumonitis and I am not sure at this point if I will even be able to move forward with the rads. So it should be an interesting day all round.



Looks like everyone is feeling OK here so far :-). My MO doesn't write the Tamoxifen script until after rads. She believes in one thing at a time...



Jenn