June 2012 Radiation Rads

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  • Lagata1276
    Lagata1276 Member Posts: 85
    edited July 2012

    Thank you everyone! If all goes well, "all" I will need to do is undergo a procedure next week, endometrial ablation to take care of the bleeding. Of course all of this requires another physical and my hematologist to adjust my bloodthinner.

    Cindy - did you get your results yet?

    Neeners - any more shaving mishaps? I still use my Mach 3, just go very lightly over any stubble.

    Mamabee - this heat wave is ridiculous. Don't know what I'd do without AC! Happy yours is back on. I had # 15 today, my chest feels like pins and needles so I'm trying not to scratch!

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

    Nope, not yet.  Nothing on the web portal yet either so, fret, fret, fret.

    I never used to worry about test results.  Hey I'm healthy!  What could they find?  I believe that "fret" is part of the new normal. I guess I've lost that sense of immortality, that allows you to breeze through just about anything.

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited July 2012

    So my RO today said the big HAPPY C word...  Cured today!  Its scary because I know it shouldn't apply to BC, but thats what MDA is all about.  Everyone is really pleased with my clinical and pathological response.  Being 3-C thats pretty great!  Sorry to toot-my-own horn, but it was pretty awsome to hear that word.

     Also, are you guys allowed to shave, I'm not allowed to shave my right armpit and the hair is way long (for me) and its driving me nuts.  After 11 treatments it still hasn't fallen out.  They said if it gets a scratch/infection they have to stop treatment so its better to be safe than sorry!

     Oh and I finally got my "my girls cream"  I started using it today, I will let you know how it goes.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    My instructions say electric shaver only... But I have no hair since chemo and my underarm is being "hit", oops I mean "treated" and is really tender so I wouldn't be putting anything near it anyway...



    Jenn

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2012

    Mini - congrats!  That's so awesome!!  As far as shaving... I tried with an electric shaver TWICE and both times it cut me!  So now I shave once per week, with hardly no pressure, with my normal razor.  I'm 20 in and my hair is still growing.  I don't know how European women can stand it!

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012

    Congratulations MiniMacsMom!! I am so happy for you!!!

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2012

    MiniMacsMom - CONGRATULATION.  THAT "cure" word has so much power.      My BS when she first saw me and told me I was Stage III and all the other bad news said "We Can Cure You".  I got those words on my dining room wall.  Now that I think of it, she did her internship at MDA!   It does something for your soul. 

    Shaving - my underarm hair isn't falling out either after 16 rads.  

    But my eyelashes are coming in so the who cares about underarm hair!  LOL!

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012

    I envy you Denise. My eyelashes just fell out for the 3rd time the past few days. Time to wait for them to grow again. {Sigh}

    I had #6 today. Today is "see the doctor day". My skin is pink and I have been using the Aquaphor 3 times a day. RO said keep on moisturizing. Thinking of trying something else. Any thoughts from those that turned/are turning pink early?? I also have been really nauseous for the first 15-30 minutes after each "zap". Goes away as quickly as it sets in.

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2012

    Momof2inMe/Brooke - Oh no, you mean my baby eyelashes can fall out again? I was so proud of them! They look thicker than before.

    Aloe seems to help my pickness better than the other lotions.  I get really red toward my neck and chest.

    Is nausea common??   

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited July 2012

    I get nausea, but its not bad, goes away fast... Mom of 2, I rotate a few different lotions.  I got 99% aloe from the co-op, the other stuff is Vitamin A, E... Ect.  The 100 % stuff from the store has EDTA and other perservatives I am not a fan of.   I also got the candelula lotion I mentioned before and Borage advanced therapy :)  I figure it can't hurt.  I started getting a little pinkish/tan at a little over a week... nd then started lotions after 10 days.  If nothing else, ti makes me feel better. 

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  • Believe777
    Believe777 Member Posts: 576
    edited July 2012

    I had my 14th treatment today. I also have "Radiation Rash", at least it doesn't hurt.

    Thank you to all of you! This is horrible but together we can do it.

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  • Believe777
    Believe777 Member Posts: 576
    edited July 2012

    Congratulations MiniMacsMom! I didn't know we'd ever hear those words. I thought the best we would hear is NED, no evidence of disease. I am so happy for you and your family.

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  • sweetpea23
    sweetpea23 Member Posts: 56
    edited July 2012

    Hi all. I have still been shaving w/ my regular razor but lightly like Neeners815 said. It is summer for goodness sakes. If it was winter, I might think differently (haha). I had #11 today. I also was kind of irritated because there was a student? or someone in the room watching the whole process today and they did not even acknowledge her to me. I realize that my boobs have been exposed to more or less the whole world by now, but for some reason, it felt a tad bit uncomfortable. They could have least said what she was doing there. I could just be grumpy though too. Take care.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    After extensive searching (I work in clinical trials) I could only find positive trial data for calendula cream and the really concentrated Manuka honey.



    So I have a pawpaw and calendula cream (very soothing and moisturising), some calendula cream (soothing but needs to be mixed with a moisturiser), some 90% aloe vera (haven't used as yet) and my own concoction in a jar that has pure coconut oil, some calendula cream and some medical grade Manuka honey (which is the most moisturising of all but a bit sticky...).



    I use the pawpaw and calendula cream with extra calendula cream added in the morning before work then my own honey etc at night. I am quite sore at night already but by morning it feels good.



    Jenn

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited July 2012

    Riverangel:  Sorry I haven't responded to your question before this.  Been trying to keep busy and "unplug" from technology this summer while the weather is nice!

    For me, I love Sun Salutations.  They are invigorating, whole-body moving, and every time I raise my arms and face to the sky I give thanks for being alive and having made it through this journey.  Every instructor does these salutation sequences differently, but they are always wonderful!

    I also love Savasana - final relaxation.  My instructor often gives us bolsters to place under our legs or hips, or we twist and "melt" onto the bolster.  It's an opportunity to "let go" and simply be, quieting our mind and giving us a chance to reconnect with our bodies.  I use it as a time to "check in" with where my body is, where I'm feeling pain or uncomfortableness, and to send healing energy to that part.  Lately I've been laying in Savasana with my left hand over my left breast as a way to send even more energy to healing that area.

    I hope you enjoy your practice and find peace and relaxation along the way!  Namaste.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    "Heat rash" in the middle of my chest yesterday so the nurse gave me 1% hydrocortisone cream which soothed it for about 2 hours...Her comment "that's early" didn't surprise me. I just replied "I wouldn't have expected anything less since I've always been extremely sun sensitive".



    The anti-histamine seems to be keeping the hives at bay.



    I'm done with 7 out of 28 so I'm a 1/4 of the way there, wherever there is...



    Will see the RO this afternoon - got another long list of questions for her!



    Jenn

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012
    Thanks for your posting Jenn. I too am 7/28 today. Never thought about it being 1/4 way there so that just made me happy..Smile
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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    28 seems unusual as everyone seems to do 16, 25, 33... It's nice to have someone else doing 28 :-)



    Are your 28 all regular with no boost?



    Mine are 28 regular with a concurrent boost - I get 2 extra hits each day to the tumour bed.



    Jenn

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012

    I had a BMX so RO said no boosts. I was told boosts are mostly for lumpectomies to give a little extra "zap" to the tumor site.

    I am a little pink already and started getting a little tired yesterday. Yay for more SE's {sarcasm}.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    I take your sarcasm and second it ;-/



    I got so tired so quicklynlast night that I felt sick. Of course now it is 5.30am here and I've been awake since 4.00am...



    Jenn

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    I take your sarcasm and second it ;-/



    I got so tired so quicklynlast night that I felt sick. Of course now it is 5.30am here and I've been awake since 4.00am...



    Jenn

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  • Lagata1276
    Lagata1276 Member Posts: 85
    edited July 2012

    16/33 done. I got new stickers as my old ones were getting icky. Thats the only time i get new marks so am happy with that. My adorable RO sees me on Tuesday's and he had a cute male medical student with him so I was happy. I told him I started feeling itchy, like pins and needles in my upper chest. He prescribed me 2.5% hydrocortisone cream.

    Happy day off tomorrow and enjoy the fireworks.

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2012

    I've never been so happy to have a day off!

    Happy 4th of July everyone!  We do have a lot to celebrate.

    I honestly don't know how I have made it this far.  Well, I

    do know how - BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! 

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  • akinto
    akinto Member Posts: 97
    edited July 2012

    I week post radiation, 7000 km from home, I get my first skin breakdown. Aargh! A heat rash where my bra band goes.

    I should have brought cortisone cream just in case. I didn't.

    Here's  hoping my regular suff works...

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    You can usually buy low strength cortisone cream over the counter... Where are you?



    Jenn

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  • akinto
    akinto Member Posts: 97
    edited July 2012

    Good idea. I will go to an apothecary (no chain drugstores here) this afternoon. I asked yesterday about Vitamin E ointment, a second tube of which I forgot to bring. They had A, not E.

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited July 2012

    Completed 16/30 yesterday - today's the Fourth of July here in the states so I have a nice "break" in the middle of a treatment week (yea!)  So far my skin looks and feels completely normal - my RO is pleasantly surprised.  I'm having pain in the surgical sites - the muscle/tissue/skin is starting to tighten, and Lucy is starting to "perk up" a little and feel fuller than her right-side sister.  Some pain in my shoulder and upper arm, but again the RO says that's completely normal as muscles and tissue tighten due to rads.

    Two more txs this week, then one more full week of txs, then 7 days of boosts.

    Finally, though, the fatigue is setting in.  I was so excited about getting my energy back after chemo and feeling "human" again, and I had to admit yesterday that I just don't have the energy I used to.  If I let myself I'd sleep about 10-12 hours a day right now.  I'm hoping this will be a short-lived SE.

    Hugs to you all as you move forward through your rads.

    (You know me, I name everything - my hot flashes are Mildred, You Bitch, so my DH suggested I name my breast instead of pointing to her or simply calling her Booby Girl.  So, as I was putting together an Ikea bookcase the other day I had to remember "Righty-Tighty, Lefty-Loosey" and thus Lucy was named.  Let's all just hope I don't get uterine cancer or have to name my vagina...)

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  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited July 2012

    Happy 4th Everyone!!!! I am back to work now so not much time on here. I got my BRCA testing back. My BRCA 1 was neg & BRCA came back as a variant .... Favor Polymorphism. I was told I am to do the Radiation treatments so I had my simulation on Monday. It took over 3 hours because I decided to sign up for the Trial. I won't know anything till next week as they have to be able to see the surgery field ( make sure it not closed inside ). One of the protocols. I had to have blood work at GP that morning took a 1/2 hour to find something to give & luckly I finally gave enough so they could use some for the Trial. I got 3 tattoos, didn't like that at all. Ouch! I still have to get one more when I go in next time!

    I should start next week at about 7:55 am every day. I have women only! I only met then once they seem reel nice, almost like Perkyness on speed in a way! Oh well maybe some will rub off on me & give a boost after work in the mornings.

    2 ?'s. Twhat brand of Aloe at Wally world do you all use I saw the brand name here somewhere. Also has any one used the pull over all cotton jog bras they are really plain ( no seams except at the edges ). I have to have something to cover me at work to help protect the scratchy uniforms I have to wear also I don't want to ruin them with the creams too. I bought a real thin haines T to go under but it's really warm & my bra is soaked in places by the time I get home. Thanks for all your help everyone!

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

    Good luck Julz!  I used Fruit of the Earth.  The clear stuff with nothing added.

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  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited July 2012

    Cindy thanks that's the one I saw. So many lotions gosh ONE could end up making one HECK of a concoction!!!!

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