May 2012 radiation

The dude I had was a student and he OVER explained everything everytime! You would think that after a few treatments, they would assume you know the routine. I found it annoying...just do it and let me outta here!

Neeners... I had mostly male techs.  They seem to have a crew of about 8 techs (3 women and 5 men) working two rooms and work four days a week so there is an ever shifting crew, but I only had one treatment where it was just the "girls" usually had 3 or even 4 buzzing around (3 techs and a student) anyway, the "boys" were, without exception, kinder, gentler and more considerate than the girls.  Not that the girls were unkind, but the little courtesy's, help with the robe, a steadying hand as you got off the table, always the guys.  They were also funnier.  One of the real youngsters, a student, could maybe have been 21, had expressed some concern on a Friday about redness and swelling, and had flagged down a nurse to look me over.  The next time he saw me he glanced down said "Wow! Your breast looks great!  Er ahm ur skin!  Skin! Skin! Your skin looks great!"  He turned so red.  I just about died laughing.  I'm old enough to be your mom, son and I've had so many people looking at me that it doesn't bother me, just hope it doesn't warp you for life.

I will also say they only drew on me at the two set ups before rads and the day they did set ups for boosts, so I didn't have to put up with that.  I just about cried when they were setting up the boosts. I was so sore that the sharpie was stinging like crazy and I knew I would just have to live with those marks as I couldn't scrub them off... but they peeled off fairly shortly, so it was all good.

Neeners - sorry you were uncomfortable.  I don't even think about my male tech being male.  He's just doing his job and he seems pretty pleasant.  Sorry you get drawn on all the time.  That would bother me too! 

Yes, the grey is very weird. 

Cindy - your story is very funny. 

Congrats Mopsy for being done today! 

Got my treatment in today!  Yea.  I guess they fixed the machine???  There was just a tiny delay getting me back there but the first person could have been late since they called us yesterday afternoon to say there may be a problem.  Whatever.  I got my treatment and a tiny wait doesn't bother me at all.  I just play solitaire on my phone while I wait!  LOL  I miss my friend who was after me. 

I have mostly female techs and they are so kind and compassionate.  Occasionally there is a male student (i think i've seen him about 3 times in all my 29 treatments, but I still feel a little uncomfortable when he's there).

Started my boosts, I'm on to #4 of 7 and almost immediately I have a red welt below my armpit.  The therapist told me that I am getting a slightly higher dose than I had for the whole breast rads and the rays don't penetrate nearly as deep, so there is usually a more angry skin reaction.  The sore spot is right where my bras sit, of course, and I couldn't face going totally braless everywhere, so today I took one of my soft sports bras and cut a section out under the arm, so that it doesn't touch the sore area. Sorted!!

One of the stickers was peeling off yesterday and the skin was sore underneath. I said to my techs that I didn't want another sticker there and I fully expected them to say 'we need to put it back' but they are so great, they said not to worry, we have a photo and can go by that, we don't want to make your skin worse. They are so lovely - I'm going to miss them, in a funny sort of way.

YAY BL, Elaine and Mopsy!  Big congrats on finishing!  Mopsy, I'm taking an AI -- generic Arimidex -- and so far, so good.  I don't think the bone loss is severe, but it is nervous-making.  More incentive to keep walking, and doing weight-bearing exercises.

mckenna and sbelizabeth, I'm so sorry to hear about the continuing skin reactions and blisters.  What a drag!

Neeners, I sure know who you feel with the male tech!  I did have a couple of nice ones (nicer than the females, actually), but I never got comfortable around them.  My boosts were only on one side.

EWWWW ... mckenna, that is pretty gross sounding, poor child  oh, and poor you.  I hope it looks worse than it feels?

Congratulations Mopsy!!  yippee. 

Congrats Joanne!  Enjoy your day!  What a great feeling! 

sb...are you taking Neulasta after your chemo each time? It sure helped my WBC.

Schiatzi, I took neulasta after each chemo, but I finished my last chemo the end of March.  The radiation tends to kill of the white blood cells, but not nearly to the extent that chemo does.  I have a call into my MO to see if she wants to talk to my RO about a neulasta shot.  I know they cost a billion dollars each, but that's why I have health insurance!

As far as bringing things into the room, before I get all settled in for the treatment, I put my iPOD in my ears and have the techs turn it on just before they leave.  My iPOD isn't glowing yet, so I suppose it's OK!

Jan - yep, I bring my purse.  We do have lockers in the changing closet (you can't count those two things rooms - only 3 lockers in each), but there isn't a lock.  I could just hand my purse to hubby to watch, but I just got into the habit of taking it into the treatment room for some reason.

SB - wow, you listen to your ipod during treatment?  I've never asked about that.  They have the radio on every morning and it's a game now to me to determine the significance between the song and what's going on with me  Hey, it keeps me distracted!

#17 is over.  I felt a zing in my nipple, which hopefully was just all in my head!  I think it looks a little darker.  Please no black nipple syndrome.  *starts cheering righty on again*

I cannot wait to have a day off in the middle of the week next week!  God Bless America! 

SB - How often do they take your blood work? every week?  I haven't had blood work done since chemo.  Well, that's not true.  I'm on the metformin trial so I had a bunch done before that started last month but that was like early May.  OMG - Those neulasta shots are soooooooooo expensive.  Thank goodness insurance is willing to pay for them!  I wonder how much that affects our fatigue.  I bet a lot! 

I leave my purse locked in my trunk and I only take my coffee, iphone, keys, miaderm, and that lovely orange "charge" card in for treatment.  I leave everything but the "charge" card in the dressing room with my clothes.  They play music in the room most days.   

Happy hump day!   

mckenna - I hope you are feeling better.  RO told me that I should expect it to get worse next week before it gets better.  My pit is the worse looking.  It looks like a big bruise right now.  Is that how yours started?