June 2012 Radiation Rads
Comments
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I had my simulation with tats today. I talked to my RO about the 3 week treatment as opposed to 5 weeks. He had brought it up weeks ago. the Canadian rads are for 3 weeks with a slightly stronger dose each day. The total number of units is less than the 5 weeks, something like 42 to 50something. At the end, the breast is smaller and harder.
Check this out for correcton but that is what I was told.
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Good luck to the folks starting this week--hope everything goes smoothly!
Week number two started today, so far, so good...I'm enjoying having energy again, did lots of gardening this weekend (covered with suntan lotion, floppy hat, nice concealing shirt.)
All the veggies are finally in...
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Yes, the hospital I go to is lovely and new. Find it hard to believe they don't have dressing rooms
or changing facilities!! Kind of weird. Thanks for all of you reporting about how they do yours.
Sounds alot better!
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Denise-G, you're right - it was like "first day on the job" nervousness. I survived, but can't say I enjoyed it. My bolus is a warm washcloth they drape over my bad boob and then they remove it for the node zaps. I swear my axillary & subclavian nodes felt a little warm as they were getting it. One down, 30-something to go...
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I am doing rads in Canada. 16 treatments that total 42 units. All of them are exactly the same.
Cosmetic results are just fine, according to the research.
I just did #5 of 16. I feel a little tight and sore and tired, not bad.
First you scan your little bar coded radiation passport card. We get juice and tea biscuits and newspapers and an aquarium in the waiting room. Then you get called in. You change in the change rooms. You take your stuff into the treatment room, where they ask your date of birth so that they know they have the right chick. (Hard to imagine anyone else presenting themselves in your place.)
A few minutes of adjusting your body to be precisely placed, then they leave, and in a very short time, they come back in and tell you you're done. Back to the change room, grease up with Glaxal, then off to work.
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Just want to tell everyone starting this week....Best of Luck! Now I am getting excited to start to see what type of changing rooms there are for me, if the "johnnies" are cute and if there are snacks available! So interesting how each place is!
I'm hoping only a few more days till I get my date. I'm just tired of waiting and it gives me too much time to think. I sincerely appreciate all the comments on here so I know what to some what expect.
Sending positive thoughts to all! -
Interesting to hear all this Canadian rads stuff! I've never heard about it around here even though I live close to Canada, but it seems it is becoming more popular!
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On my way to my first radiation session. Nervous and a little worried - really just wishing I didn't have to do this. Am wearing a long dress today; hope they don't ask me to undress from the waist up because there's not much from the waist down. :-) Anyway - good luck to everyone today, and this week, and always!!
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Good luck, NancyHB!
Forgot to weigh in on the question of attire and changing rooms. I'm at a brand-new facility that is very nicely appointed. We use two private changing rooms attached to a women-only waiting room, and are called from that room directly to radiation. There are free snacks, candy, coffee, water and tea, but I am not there long enough to take advantage, unfortunately.
As far as attire, not so much goodness. I have to put on a yucky johnnie that opens in the back, and then an equally yucky bathrobe over that. In contrast, my physical therapist has these lovely capes that look better, are far less bulky, and are more comfortable. Ah well.
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Hi everyone. I am 3 weeks PFC. Feeling pretty good, but still tired more than not. Had my exchange to implant surgery last Wednesday and now having Herceptin every 3 weeks starting tomorrow. Also have rads planning session on Thursday. Still nervous about the tattoos and don't know why? Between BC, c-section, and a half dozen moles removed what's another few marks on my body???
Cancer----- still keeping me busy.
Good luck today Nancy!
Hope everyone else is doing well finishing up chemo and those of you PFC.
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Infobabe; I would like to go to South Dakota and wounded knee
I would also like to go to Grand Canyon and yellow stone.... My 12 year old wants to go to Disneyworld and for some reason I can't figure she wants to go to Vegas ) I have not asked DH what he wants We like to drive so most likely we will rent a car and drive form east to west coast. Anyway it's 2-3 years into the future. We have to add some years to our youngest daughter -
Back from my 1st treatment! Piece of cake... So far. Got my barcode card, changed into ugly hospital gown (these things never tie), and laid on the table. Had 2 techs drawing their dots and lines on me before the X-rays. My cutie RO came in but told me not to move my head so I didn't get to see him. Nurse took my vitals afterwards and gave me samples of deodorant and called in a prescription for a cream the RO likes. Out of there in less than 45 minutes. Will put some Aquaphor on tonight. The plan is for 25 'regular' treatments and 8 boosts for a total of 33. Sound right? I'll be done July 27th.
Rava - all of those places are beautiful! The Grand Canyon is indescribable. Las Vegas is a lot of fun! That's a lot of driving but well worth it.
Momof2 - sorry, what does PFC stand for? Can't find the list of abbreviated medical terms so thought I'd ask. -
Found out there is a lovely dressing room at my Radiation Facility (no food or snacks though). I guess they just bypassed that fact on the first day! Wanted me to get used to being naked in front of all the staff.
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PFC is post final chemo
I actually thought I was posting in my chemo thread.... That's chemo brain for ya.
Doesn't mean I'm still not nervous about the planning session on Thursday and tattoos....
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Lagata - I'm still envious that you have a cute RO.
The treatments are easy to me - I trick myself into thinking I'm just getting xrays
I'm getting mine done at one of the hospitals in our town (the one that's in our insurance plan) and it leaves a lot to be desired, I must say. They do have separate changing rooms and little areas to wait if you don't want to sit with men, though. I always go to the main one and check out the fish. We don't get any drinks or snacks. Half the time I'm there before the woman who works at the reception desk! I only see my RO once a week, unless I have a question or a problem. Today was that day. I had to wait a while for the doctor to show up, so it was the first time sort of interacting with other patients. One woman's friend asked how long I'd been going, etc. I also had my blood taken. Wow, she was great at that. I gave her props and she said "well, I've had a lot of practice!". I said "You'd be surprised how bad some still are!". Also, I told him about the very brief pain I had yesterday in the middle of my chest and he said "Yeah, it's probably from us!". I said "Thanks a lot, buddy." He just giggled. I'm 20% done.
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PFC is post final chemo.
I actually thought I was posting in my chemo thread. That's chemo brain for ya!
It doesn't mean I'm not nervous about planning session on Thursday and tattoos.
Denise: At least you found out today. It would have really stunk if they told you on day 33. Gotta look on the bright side. You taught me that..
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Nancy - hope everything went well. It's good to get that first one under your belt. Did they make you take your dress completely off?
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Neeners: Yes, they asked me to undress from the waist down - so, there went the pretty new maxi dress I wanted to wear to work today. :-) But they have a very nice dressing room/lounge area with lockers, and they provide gowns and robes. So I undressed, robed up, and walked down the hall to my first treatment - in high heels. I was quite a comical sight, I'm certain. Took about 45 minutes to get all lined up and checked by the RO - then 2 minutes of treatment, and done. Piece of cake. 1 down, 29 to go. :-D
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Nancy - Am thinking you meant from the waist "up" ;-)
Glad it went OK.
Jenn -
Yes. I thought that was odd. What kind of perverts are they, anyway?
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Is this at U of M?
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Imlola,
Thanks for posting since you have some experience with rads. I had my simulation last Friday. The tattoos hurt but there weren't too many of them. I didn't cry, but did find it very hard to lie still for as long as it took. Between that and the cat scan they did afterward it took about 2 hours.
I finished chemo on June 4. I am just feeling really depressed and like I don't want to start another kind of cancer treatment. I am still having chemo stomach side effects - diarrhea, stomach cramps, so not getting yet to experience having my body be free from chemo SEs.
Did anyone else feel depressed before starting rads? I am also anxious probably because I don't know what to expect.
Are other people able to work during rads? I have a part-time weekend job, and with chemo was only able to work 1 weekend out of 3. I am hoping rads allow me to work a little more.
Thanks.
Pam
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Oh goodness - you caught me Jenn! Must have been wishful thinking (can't blame this on chemo brain anymore!) Yes - WAIST UP!
Infobabe - I'm in Jackson, but UM has a facility here so my doctors are UM doctors. I was so cared for by my chemo nurses that I thought I was going to miss that, but these techs and nurses and doctors at the RO's office are just as kind and caring. Makes the whole process so much easier.
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Pam: I'm sorry you're having a tough time right now. *hugs* I thought I'd feel so free and happy once chemo ended. Instead, I ended up in bed for three days crying and depressed. It took me a few days to figure out and process my feelings (thank goodness my DH is a therapist - free therapy is helpful right now). For me, I felt like I had some "control" over this disease when I was in active treatment, and when chemo ended I felt a loss of that control. Additionally (and perhaps more importantly for me) I really loved my chemo nurses and doctors, and was grieving the loss of that regular relationship. I discovered very quickly that everyone around me assumed I was "done" with treatment and also expected that meant I was miraculously cured and/or feeling "normal" again - neither of which is even close to being true, so I was angry and frustrated.
Another part of my problem is the drop in hormone levels. I started having severe hot flashes during Taxol, which will now continue on Tamoxifen. Three or four times a night, waking me up for half an hour to an hour every time. I wasn't sleeping well, which was helping to contribute to my feeling depressed.
I talked with a couple of friends who are several years out from their own BC experience, and both said they experienced severe depression at the end of chemo and again at the completion of active treatment. Both sought pharmaceutical help from their doctors for a few months while they "readjusted" to their new lives. Both said it helped them keep some of the anxiety at bay, too - wondering and worrying with every little pain or twinge or perceived bump or lump.
Because of the hot flashes my MO put me on a very low dose of Effexor. I've only taken it for a few days so I can't say for certain that it's working - but I feel better today than I did last week. Maybe it's because I've started radiation and I feel like I'm "working" on my cancer again, I don't know. I don't like to depend on pharmaceuticals for help, but if I need it and it works then I'm willing to try it for a while.
I can't speak to being able to work - I'm only going to my second rads this morning. So far so good though. :-) I'm hoping I can work through the whole thing - chemo made that so incredibly difficult.
Nancy
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PamCa I did not and don't think I would have been able to work during Chemo but I have now had 14 rads and do believe I could have been working through this.The tiredness I may feel is not at all like the chemo fatigue.I have so far been very lucky with my skin but also know that this week could be a turning point we will see after Friday. Was not depressed more anxious to get this over with.Have to go for a second scan this AM for boost set up ,I am hoping this won't require more tattoos.
NancyHB to funny I am still laughing at your Chemo brain slip up 10 minutes later.
We have all been there.Best to all that have started or or going to be starting .I think it is definitely doable and if you have been through Chemo piece of cake.
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Hi Ladies- One week since my last chemo and barely felt this one at all, I'm still in a sense waiting for the other shoe to drop since #5 was rough. Tomorrow I go meet my new rads onc and I'm also going to make an appt. with a new oncologist at the new facility since I want them in the same place and kind of get a second opinion and follow up all in one. My change was mostly due to the type of facilility I was at wanting to charge a $50 copay everyday when I walk through the door, I can't afford that and I have insurance. My rads probably won't start till end on June or early July. I guess I'll know more tomorrow. I did get on a low dose of anti-depressant right when this all started to help me through, it helps with some of the pity parties I was having, not crying as much anyway.
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Hi All,
7 down and 23 to go! I seem to be chronically annoyed with the rads staff and process. First it was the johnnies and this AM when I was thru they sprung the nutritionist on me. No heads up no warning. I leave there and go to work, my schedule is pretty tight. I rolled my eyes or made a face so they skipped it for the mostpart. I got a minute lecture about PROTEIN. A heads up or asking what day this week would work best for you would be helpful. I think I am just done with being told what to do, I have been in this process for 9 months, I am so DONE!!! So after the protein lecture I went and got a cup of coffee and a cinammon roll. Comfort food it sometimes better that nutritionally what is best. Annoyed, agitated etc all describe me.
Pam, I get the depressed. Look at my first paragraph. I kind of cruised thru chemo, but am in such a funk these days. Some days it just seems like it will all go on forever. I am working, it is my mental health. I am trying to go with the mantra, cancer is part of my life, but not my life. Working helps with that. If you need to talk to your MD about some prescription help. That has helped me tremendously. Everyone tells me that as well get tot he end of treatment, we will get very emotional and feel down ans we try to move forward. So I am sure that is a piece of what is happening.
Gentle day
Nel
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Wow, this is a chatty group - so many new posts this morning! Glad your first session went well, Nancy - sorry about the maxi dress though. I love to wear dresses in the summer, but I realized that I'll need to save them for them for nighttime or weekends. I only get 2 hospital gowns (1st one goes on opening in the back with 2nd one over it, opening in the front) to walk the halls so I definitely want something on the bottom. No snacks or tea or aquariums for me - just a stark waiting room with a "SURVIVOR" acrostic poem needlepoint on the wall (yes, "VITAL" doesn't have an "E" but it's the thought that counts) and old, crinkled Cancer Survivor magazines. I seem to be scheduled for the same time as an older woman who just gets a couple of zaps for a lumpectomy and an older man who's doing both chemo and rads at the same time so he's not feeling so well - I let them go first since my treatment seems to take longer (2 zaps on one side, techs come in & check my positioning, then 2 more zaps on the other side, techs come in again, check positioning and remove bolus - a warm, wet washcloth - then one more zap on my nodes) and I'm younger. I just hang out and play on my iphone.
Hugs Pam! I'm a bit depressed too. I did chemo, then surgery, and now rads so i did get a little break on SEs - it must be hard to do one right after the other. And I certainly didn't have the same attitude going into rads as I did with chemo - then I was looking forward to getting started and getting rid of the stupid cancer. But now, 6 months later, I'm so done with hospitals and doctors and nurses and tests...well, you get the idea. Also, I had a relatively easy time with chemo and they keep telling me how hard rads will be on my skin - because I'm having a bolus every day - I'm worried. Summer is my favorite time of the year - I want to hang out in the sun, go swimming, wear cute little sundresses - and I can't do all of that. Yes, it bums me out.
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And, Nel, no one's given me any nutritional advice. Protein, eh? Does a blueberry muffin have protein?
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You had a mastectomy but are still getting rads?
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