May 2012 radiation

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

    mckenna and neeners --- had to laugh at the scissors .... lol  -- I too tried to figure out what you meant by that.

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  • Mopsy
    Mopsy Member Posts: 49
    edited June 2012

    Is bone pain an effect of radiation?  Last week I noticed some in my fingers, but thought nothing of it.  This morning my other hand hurts and HIP.  Never had hip pain.  Is bone pain a side effect of radiation for anyone?

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  • etherize
    etherize Member Posts: 423
    edited June 2012

    jnbg88, if I were you, I'd call my MO and tell him/her that the RO isn't going to irradiate your supraclavicular lymph nodes and see what he thinks.  I agree with you, with 22/22 nodes positive -- plus you have grade 3, like me -- it seems only reasonable to get those nodes, too just to be on the safe side.  At least talk to the RO again and tell him everything you've said here.  You deserve a more thorough, well-thought-out answer, imho.  You have every right to be upset about the sudden change.  

    BLinthedesert and sbelizabeth, you ladies are making me itch to get outside and go hiking or something!  I love seeing wildlife, snakes included as long as they're at a safe distance.  Last summer a California king snake left his (her?) skin in our yard and I saved all 5 feet of it!  I know that visual is probably making a lot of women here shudder.  LOL  

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    Seriously how is dcis anywhere near scissors? All of the sudden I can post from the kindle but have to suffer through auto correct :)



    Kids start ymca camp tomorrow. When I first started rads I had things planned out by school. Vs camp and new there were more weeks when they were in school than at camp. As I am getting lunches ready for the week it is making me happy to know that I am on to the camp weeks.



    Neeners I will be thinking of you tomorrow when you get to start subtracting those days :)

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  • AEM47
    AEM47 Member Posts: 297
    edited June 2012

    Is everyone else getting x-rays once a week to check on positioning?  I was surprised that my RO would be doing this - apparently lining up the skeleton once a week after being positioned to make sure everything is still the same.  On one hand, it sounds like it makes sense...on the other hand - really another 6 x-rays on top of rads???? 

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    I do get xrays once a week.



    I have not experienced bone pain. Have you also started tamoxifen? I think bone pain can be a side effect of that

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  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited June 2012

    Yes.  They did the weekly xrays to make sure that the radiation was hitting the right places and not hitting the wrong places.  After my first xray they started getting a lot more vigilant about my right arm placement.  Apparently it was getting scatter...

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  • Lagata1276
    Lagata1276 Member Posts: 85
    edited June 2012

    Hi everyone! I am hopefully starting rads in June but had to read through this thread to pick up some tips and experiences from you all. I must admit, it was some much needed comic relief!! I just got home from dropping off some groceries to mom when she pats my stomach and claims, "you look fat!". Not what I needed to hear today. I'm 5-10, 170, and yes, need to lose a few pounds...



    Anyway, reading about "scissors," girls hanging out for everyone to see, and smelling like a baker, all made me LOL!



    I did get some good tips and thank you all for making me laugh. I'm awaiting results from a biopsy on my good boob before proceeding with rads. I was wondering what that big bell on the wall was for when I checked in for my first meeting with my RO! Now I know to avoid it.



    I thought a good chick flick I've seen recently was We Bought A Zoo with Matt Damon. Congrats to those finishing up and best wishes for those just beginning (tomorrow for Neeners).



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  • etherize
    etherize Member Posts: 423
    edited June 2012

    Welcome, Diana!  

    AEM47, I feel the same as you about the weekly X-rays.  Seems like a good idea, I guess, but my cynical side wondered if they were a little cavalier about doing extra X-rays, figuring, "she's already getting radiation, what's a few more x-rays?" ;-)

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  • AnnieM353
    AnnieM353 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2012

    AnnieM353  6/22/12

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  • AnnieM353
    AnnieM353 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2012

    I am so proud of my daughter, she just ran in a 1/2 marathan which benefitted breast cancer today in San Francisco.  She finsihed in 1 hour 52 minutes, so proud.  This has been a hard trip for her too but she is getting through it like a trooper. 

    A question for you women, I have had a lot of leg swelling, almost every day, not just in my ankles but my leg from the knee down.  It seemed to get bad after my third chemo treatment and has contined now even though I finished chemo on 4/19.  Is anyone else experiencing this side effect from radiation?  My dr. (oncologist) prescribed some water pills but only 30 and didn't want to renew the Rx.   I have gained some weight (felt better during chemo if I ate, good but not good), but I don't think that would make my legs swell this much.  Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this as well. 

    Enjoy the rest of your weekends....

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    Legata and McKenna - thanks so much for the positive thoughts.  I really appreciate it :)  I'm ready to get this going and be done.  Tomorrow the count down begins!

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  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited June 2012

    So mckenna how have you lost 21 lbs?  That is so awesome!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    Mostly stress which is odd because typically I am a stress eater but not this time. Also when they thought I had an infection the antibiotic I was on decreased my appetite. I am also eating more fruits and veggies and very little meat. I try not to eat after 6pm and drink lots of water

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012

    mckenna, that is a lot of weight - congratulations.  (sissors - ha ha, I like it).

    Neeners, good luck tomorrow!  It will be fine, and we will be here to hear all about it Smile 

    Congratulations to your daughter Annie! 

    We aim to make people smile Lagata! 

    I hear you on the x-rays - but I guess since the actual radiation amount is so small compared to what we are getting every day, I have thought I prefer that to getting too much radiation to any place outside of the breast area during treatment.  I am terrified of lung problems (since I am a runner) ... originally, only 1 cm of lung is supposed to be in the field (I made the tech show me after my original CT scan!), and I would prefer this to be the case (or even less)!  I am not really sure how the x-ray helps determine scatter field though, I am going to ask on Tuesday when I see my RO.  

    My breast is finally looking red, and my nipple is sore, but I really can't complain, nothing is purple or black (although I actually like the color purple, I would prefer my breast stay its boring beige color Wink).

    Good luck next week ladies ... my hope for you is on time appointments, no baked breasts (with gravy), privacy at work/home/on the radiation table, and lots of support from the May/June RADs group!! 

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited June 2012

    Happy Sunday night, everyone!

    Mopsy, I'm not having bone pain with radiation either.  Like mckenna, I would guess tamoxifen, or perhaps arthritis.  I don't think pain in your hand AND your hip would be related to the radiation or the cancer itself, but of course I'm guessing.

    Mckenna, congrats on the weight loss!  I'm 5'7" and about 175 lb, so I have some to lose, too.  The radiation folks weigh me every Monday, which is just more awfulness.  I'm tempted to pull the 2 lbs. of Amoena silicone out of my bra and hand it to them so the scale will be kinder. 

    I have a great bald story to tell those of you who had chemo, like me.  My hair is now about 1/4 inch long, still VERY short, but I'm tired of hats and wigs and I finally just said the heck with it.  I wear girly clothes, lots of eye makeup, and big earrings.  I was in the public bathroom at work last week, washing my hands, when a lady walked in, looked at me, walked back out,  checked the sign on the door, and walked back in.  I almost hurt myself laughing.

    Have a great week, girlfriends.  Let's all buckle in for the ride.   

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

    sbelizabeth -- thanks for the laugh -- did the lady do anything after ....

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  • AEM47
    AEM47 Member Posts: 297
    edited June 2012

    Cindyl -- how did u know about the arm getting too much - I've got some irritation in the inside of my upper arm..seems like it should b out of the line of fire?

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    sbelizabeth - thanks for the laugh!  Wow!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    Sb thanks for the laugh and I think on the last day they weigh you; you should totally whip the silocone out

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    OK, I'm back from my appointment, embarrassed!  Today wasn't rads, it was xrays and measurements.  I said "I thought we did that last week with the tattoos?".  Do'h!  Apparently those were just measurements with the Cat Scan machine and not the measurements with the radiation machine.  Sigh.  I'm slightly bummed.  I really wanted to start today.  So tomorrow is my 100% real start date.  Sheesh.

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    Oh, and another thing - so my RO says not to use any glaxol, emu, etc. until there starts to be a problem.  I think that's wrong.  It reminds me of not having anything to drink until you're thirsty (so by that time you're already dehydrated).  What do you girls think?  Has anyone else's RO said the same thing?  Also, the Tech said I could shave, but would have to use an electric shaver.  I'm not going to tell hubby I'm using his for my pit.  That's bad, right?  :D

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

    Neeners -- shave now and you will not have to shave after .... my rads started on April 10th and might have shaved once during -- when my armpit was still good (and not broken out)  and I have not shaved since .... not sure if the hair will grow back from some others posts.

    As for creams -- my RO told me to use Glaxol base --- just like you said ... get your breast conditioned ahead -- not to wait until it is already blistered.  Now I used it immediately after rads - in the change room -- my breast, under the breast, the nipple and the underarm.  Do not put any on for at least 2 hours before your treatment.

    Good luck with them -- it is tiring because of the daily routine and they are fatiguing but you will be fine !!!

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012

    Hi Neeners, I started using Miaderm about a week before I started (per their recommendation). The folks at my center just told me what I "could" use, they did not tell me when to use it.  I am not sure if it helped starting early or not, but so far, my skin is holding up!

    I tried using an electric razor and it hurt/burned my skin so badly - for about a day - so now I am just not shaving under that arm.  

    AEM - my underarm area is tender too, maybe scatter? 

    sbelizabeth - he he he ... that is classic! Maybe you should get one of those little pink bows that they use on baby girls so everyone knows they are girls?  I saw a young woman wearing a HUGE one in Flagstaff yesterday Wink 

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    neeners, i got my first rad dose the day they did all those xrays and things.  so i am guessing i need to change your end date.  my rad team had me start the second day of rads (mostly because that was my see the RO day) but i am only putting the two creams they gave me, topicort and vanicream, at night.  when i had the irritation under the boob they also gave me aquafor.  i used that friday and saturday and sunday seemed better and i did lots of stuff that had me warmer or sweating so i went back to the corn startch during the day and that is doing well.  the irritation under the boob seems better from keeping the mixture of aquafor and topicort on with that surgery pad and no rads for two days.  i have a feeling it will be back to the way it was in a day or two but i don't like having the creams on all day, i much prefer the creams only at night.

    i have been continuing to shave but only about once a week.  i think i am only getting scatter under the arm so my hair is continuing to grow but the area closest to the boob seems to grow very slowly.  i just shaved this am and i will see how long it lasts.

    10 MORE LEFT!!!Cool

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  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited June 2012

    AEM47 -- My techs told me.  After the first set of xrays they said "oops, your are to comfortable and raise the handles another notch and twisted my arm at a sharper angle.  Then they'll twist on it a little more to get it higher and farther away.  I never noticed anything that I would attribute to the rads, and some day, I hope to make use of my new ability to put my are in places I never thought it would go.Cool

    I don't know if they saw damage or if the just saw my arm in the field...

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2012

    sbelisabeth :-))) you made me laugh. I am being told by my friends that now can I use mens bathroom if there is a wait at ladies... haha how funny they are.

    So I have 3 boosts to go! They are still using bolus on me, now thicker than before. Skin in that area looks terrible now.. the upper layer peeled off and it's all raw pink.  I cannot stand looking at it. It doesn't hurt though unless I touch it of course. I don't know what to put on it anymore. Miaderm stings. I didn't get any special prescription creams. Doctor said it's best just to let it dry and heal itself. Any thoughts? Is there anything that you're using on peeled skin?

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  • jittersmom
    jittersmom Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2012

    back after  4 days with the family at keuka Lake...a much needed break from radiaiton, cancer etc.

    Goodie...congratulatuions to your daughter on her graduation, a wonderful proud moment

    mckenna..so tamoxifen causes weight gain ugh..I gained weight during chemo and I am also trying to reduce, but I am going on tamoxifen next..the hard part is my knee  and hip keeps giving me pain ever since chemo so walking is not working for me.

    I only have 6 rads left! can't wait my husband suggested putting signs on my boobs..HOT Cold! My boob is so red because I have very white skin it looks shocking lol..I don't have pain just uncomfortable tightness and burn

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

    jittersmom -- I have heard both weight gain and weight loss ..... so I am hoping for LOSS !!! 

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    I could use a loss, too!  I've started walking and drinking water, but no changed on the scale.

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